Abstract MP27: Effects of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors on Lifetime Risk of Chronic Disease Mortality and Life Expectancy in Men and Women

Abstract

The impact of healthy lifestyle behaviors on lifetime risk of chronic disease mortality and life expectancy in U.S. population remains less explored. Purpose: We investigated the combined effects of lifestyle factors on lifetime risk of chronic disease mortality and life expectancy in US men and women at 40 years of age. Methods: Lifetime risks of chronic disease mortality to 80 years of age were estimated for men and women, with death free of chronic diseases as a competing event. We followed 7848 men and women, aged 40 to 80 years, who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. All participants completed baseline lifestyle behavior questionnaires. A healthy lifestyle profile was defined as physically active, never smoking, and a healthy diet defined by the American Heart Association Strategic Committee. They were further categorized as having 0, 1, 2, or 3 combined healthy lifestyle factors. Results: During an average of 13.2 years of follow-up (103,851 person years), there were a total of 1645 chronic disease deaths (915 CVD, 546 cancer, 281 respiratory disease, 98 diabetes mellitus). The lifetime risks of chronic disease mortality (at 40 years of age) were 38.1% (95% CI: 35.7 to 40.5) and 30.7% (95% CI: 28.5 to 33.0) in men and women, respectively. Men and women who were physically active, never smoked, and had a healthy diet had a substantially lower lifetime risk of chronic disease mortality. The lifetime risks of chronic disease mortality across 0, 1, 2, and 3 combined healthy lifestyle factors were 47.2%, 33.0%, 21.2%, and 16.2%, respectively. After adjustment for multiple risk factors, men and women with all 3 healthy lifestyle factors had a 36% (95% CI: 28% to 42%) lower risk of chronic disease mortality compared with men and women with zero healthy lifestyle factors. Persons with 0 compared with 3 healthy lifestyle factors had a shorter life expectancy by 10 years (95% CI: 7.8 to 12.1 years). Approximately 30% (95% CI: 14% to 43%) of chronic disease deaths might have been avoided if men and women had maintained all 3 healthy lifestyle factors. Conclusion: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is associated with lower risk of chronic disease mortality in men and women. Nationwide primordial and primary prevention efforts are needed to support the attainment of healthy lifestyles for the lifetime.