Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Hawaii and in the nation. It poses a significant public health burden to the people of Hawaii. It is also responsible for activity limitations due to disability, a large portion of health care costs including hospitalization, and indirect costs due to lost wages and decreased productivity.

The Chronic Disease Disparities Report 2011: Social Determinants provides a broad picture of some of the health disparities and social determinants of health that are apparent across all chronic diseases, risk factors and risk markers in Hawaii and illustrates that these differences follow a social gradient, not just "high" or "low" differences in population groups.