Public policy for healthy living: How COVID-19 has changed the landscape.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a transformational impact on public policy as governments played a leading role, working alongside and coordinating with business/industry, healthcare, public health, education, transportation, researchers, non-governmental organizations, philanthropy, and media/communications. This paper summarizes the impact of the pandemic on different areas of public policy affecting healthy living and cardiovascular health including prevention (i.e., nutrition, physical activity, air quality, tobacco use), risk factors for chronic disease (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, substance abuse), access to health care, care delivery and payment reform, telehealth and digital health, research, and employment policy. The paper underscores where public policy is evolving and where there are needs for future evidence base to inform policy development, and the intersections between the public and private sectors across the policy continuum. There is a continued need for global multi-sector coordination to optimize population health.

Challenges and Opportunities in Reversing Concerning Trends in Cardiovascular Disease and Life Expectancy.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related mortality and morbidity are on the rise, and significant racial and ethnic disparities persist. To reverse these trends, an expanded focus on addressing the root causes of CVD and improving health equity is needed. While barriers and challenges are inevitable, numerous successes and opportunities inspire hope for reversing these trends.