Number Of Cardiovascular Health Metrics Research Articles

Trends in cardiovascular health metrics and associations with long-term mortality among US adults with coronary heart disease

Background and aimsOur study examined the trends of cardiovascular health metrics in individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD) and their associations with all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in the US. Methods and resultsThe cohort study was conducted based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2018 and their linked mortality files (through 2019). Baseline CHD was defined as a composite of self-reported doctor-diagnosed coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and angina pectoris. Cardiovascular health metrics were assessed according to the American Heart Association recommendations. Long-term all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality were the primary outcomes. Survey-adjusted Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals for the associations between cardiovascular health metrics and all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality. The prevalence of one or fewer ideal cardiovascular health metrics increased from 14.15% to 22.79% (P < 0.001) and the prevalence of more than four ideal cardiovascular health metrics decreased from 21.65% to 15.70 % (P < 0.001) from 1999 to 2018, respectively. Compared with CHD participants with one or fewer ideal cardiovascular health metrics, those with four or more ideal cardiovascular health metrics had a 35% lower risk (hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval: 0.51, 0.82) and a 45% lower risk (0.56; 0.38, 0.84) in all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality, respectively. ConclusionSubstantial declines were noted in ideal cardiovascular health metrics in US adults with CHD. A higher number of cardiovascular health metrics was associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in them.

Association of Parental Cardiovascular Health With Disability-Adjusted Life Years in the Offspring: Results From the Framingham Heart Study.

Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) are used to evaluate the relative burden of diseases in populations to help set prevention or treatment priorities. The impact of parental cardiovascular health (CVH) on healthy life years lost from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adult offspring is unknown. We compared parent-offspring CVD DALYs trends over the life course and examined the association of parental CVH with offspring CVD DALYs. Using data from the Framingham Heart Study, 4814 offspring-mother-father trios were matched for age at selected baseline exams. CVH score was computed from the number of CVH metrics attained at recommended levels: poor (0-2), intermediate (3-4), and ideal (5-7). CVD DALYs were defined as the sum of years of life lost and years lived with CVD. Age-sex-standardized life expectancy and disability weights were derived from the actuarial life tables and Global Burden of Disease study, respectively. Multivariable-adjusted linear regression was used to investigate the association of parental CVH with offspring CVD DALYs. Over an equal 47-year follow-up, parents lost nearly twice the number of CVD DALYs compared to their offspring (23 234 versus 12 217). However, age-adjusted CVD DALYs were higher at younger ages and similar along the life course for parents and offspring. One-unit increase in parental CVH was associated with 5 healthy life months saved in offspring. Offspring of mothers with ideal versus poor CVH had 3 healthy life years saved (β=-3.0 DALYs [95% CI, -5.6 to -0.3]). No statistically significant association was found between paternal CVH categories and offspring CVD DALYs. Higher maternal and paternal CVH were associated with increased healthy life years in offspring; however, the association was strongest between mothers and offspring. Investment in CVH promotion along the life course has the potential to reduce the burden of CVD in the current and future generation of adults.

Change in Cardiovascular Health Metrics and Risk for Proteinuria Development: Analysis of a Nationwide Population-Based Database

Introduction: Evidence is lacking regarding the association between cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics and the risk for proteinuria. Methods: We performed this observational cohort study including 865,087 participants (median age, 46 years, 60.7% men) with negative proteinuria at the initial health check-up, who underwent repeated health check-ups within 4 years. Ideal CVH metrics included nonsmoking, body mass index <25 kg/m², physical activity at goal, eating breakfast, blood pressure <120/80 mm Hg, fasting plasma glucose <100 mg/dL, and total cholesterol <200 mg/dL. The primary outcome was incident proteinuria, defined as ≥1 + on the urine dipstick test. Results: Participants were categorized as having low CVH metrics defined as having 0–2 ideal CVH metrics (n = 84,439), middle CVH metrics defined as having 3–4 ideal CVH metrics (n = 335,773), and high CVH metrics defined as having 5–7 ideal CVH metrics (n = 444,875). Compared with low CVH metrics, middle CVH metrics (odds ratio (OR): 0.61, 95% CI: 0.59–0.63) and high CVH metrics (OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.43–0.46) were associated with a lower risk of proteinuria. The OR of a one-point increase in the ideal number of CVH metrics was 0.83 (95% CI: 0.82–0.83). All CVH metrics components except for ideal total cholesterol were associated with a decreased risk of proteinuria. A one-point improvement in the number of ideal CVH metrics at 1 year after the initial health check-up was associated with a decreased incidence of proteinuria (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.89–0.92). Conclusion: Not only maintaining better CVH metrics but also improving CVH metrics would prevent developing proteinuria in a general population.

Association between ideal cardiovascular health and risk of sudden cardiac death and all-cause mortality among middle-aged men in Finland.

Strong associations have been demonstrated between the American Heart Association's cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics and various cardiovascular outcomes, but the association with sudden cardiac death (SCD) is uncertain. We examined the associations between these CVH metrics and the risks of SCD and all-cause mortality among men in Finland. We used the prospective population-based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease cohort study, which consists of men between 42 and 60 years of age at baseline. CVH metrics were computed for 2577 men with CVH scores at baseline ranging from 0 to 7, categorized into CVH scores of 0-2 (poor), 3-4 (intermediate) and 5-7 (ideal). Multivariate Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazards ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of ideal CVH metrics for SCD and all-cause mortality. During a median follow-up period of 25.8 years, 280 SCDs and 1289 all-cause mortality events were recorded. The risks of SCD and all-cause mortality decreased continuously with increasing number of CVH metrics across the range 2-7 (p value for non-linearity for all <0.05). In multivariable analyses, men with an ideal CVH score had an 85% reduced risk of SCD compared with men with a poor CVH score (HR 0.15; 95% CI 0.05-0.48; p = 0.001). For all-cause mortality, there was a 67% lower risk among men with an ideal CVH score compared with those with a poor CVH score (HR 0.33; 95% CI 0.23-0.49; p <0.001). Ideal CVH metrics were strongly and linearly associated with decreased risks of SCD and all-cause mortality among middle-aged men in Finland.

Ideal Cardiovascular Health Is Inversely Associated with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Prospective Analysis

BackgroundCardiovascular health has been proven to be associated with major cardiometabolic diseases. However, little is known of associations between cardiovascular health and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. MethodsThis study included 3424 adults aged ≥40 years who were free of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease at baseline from a community cohort followed for up to 5 years. Liver ultrasonography was conducted at baseline and at follow-up to diagnose incident nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Six metrics including smoking, physical activity, body mass index, total cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting glucose were used to define cardiovascular health status. Associations of individual cardiovascular health metrics, number of cardiovascular health metrics, and overall cardiovascular health status at baseline, as well as changes in cardiovascular health during follow-up with risks of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, were examined. ResultsA total of 649 participants developed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease during follow-up. Risks of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease reduced in a dose–response manner in participants with 3-4 ideal cardiovascular health metrics (odds ratio 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.61) and in participants with 5-6 ideal metrics (odds ratio 0.34; 95% confidence interval 0.22-0.51) compared with participants with 0-2 ideal metrics. An overall ideal or intermediate cardiovascular health was associated with 37% reduction in developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease compared with poor cardiovascular health. In addition, improving cardiovascular health during follow-up reduced the risk by 71% compared with deteriorating cardiovascular health. Furthermore, an overall ideal or intermediate cardiovascular health was significantly associated with a lower fibrosis score in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients compared with an overall poor cardiovascular health. ConclusionsIdeal cardiovascular health was inversely associated with risks of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Although treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and subsequent inflammation and fibrosis remains a challenge, cardiovascular health goals should be advocated for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease prevention.

Cardiovascular health metrics among South Asian adults in the United States: Prevalence and associations with subclinical atherosclerosis

South Asians, a fast growing ethnic group in the US, have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease compared to the general population. We examined the prevalence and distribution of the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics using data from Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study, and cross-sectional associations between number of CVH metrics in the ideal range with subclinical atherosclerosis assessed using coronary artery calcium (CAC) measured using cardiac computed tomography and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) measured using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. CAC was modeled as Agatston scores=0, 1–400 and >400; CIMT was examined continuously and as internal CIMT>1.5mm. In the MASALA cohort (N=875; mean age: 55years; 53% men; living in greater San Francisco and Chicago areas; October 2010–March 2013) without prevalent coronary heart disease, no participant had all 7 metrics in ideal range; approximately 20% of the participants had at least 5 metrics in ideal range. Higher number of CVH metrics in the ideal range was inversely associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. A 1 unit increase in the number of CVH metrics in the ideal range was associated with 32% lower odds of CAC=1–400 (vs. CAC=0; OR=0.68, 95% CI: 0.60, 0.78) and 28% lower odds of internal CIMT>1.5mm (OR=72, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.85). These data show the prevalence of CVH metrics among South Asians in the US, and provide empirical evidence on inverse associations of meeting ideal levels for higher number of metrics and subclinical atherosclerosis.

Cardiovascular Health Metrics and All-cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Among Middle-aged Men in Korea: The Seoul Male Cohort Study

Objectives This study estimated the association of cardiovascular health behaviors with the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in middle-aged men in Korea.MethodsIn total, 12 538 men aged 40 to 59 years were enrolled in 1993 and followed up through 2011. Cardiovascular health metrics defined the following lifestyle behaviors proposed by the American Heart Association: smoking, physical activity, body mass index, diet habit score, total cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose. The cardiovascular health metrics score was calculated as a single categorical variable, by assigning 1 point to each ideal healthy behavior. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratio of cardiovascular health behavior. Population attributable risks (PARs) were calculated from the significant cardiovascular health metrics.ResultsThere were 1054 total and 171 CVD deaths over 230 690 person-years of follow-up. The prevalence of meeting all 7 cardiovascular health metrics was 0.67%. Current smoking, elevated blood pressure, and high fasting blood glucose were significantly associated with all-cause and CVD mortality. The adjusted PARs for the 3 significant metrics combined were 35.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 21.7 to 47.4) and 52.8% (95% CI, 22.0 to 74.0) for all-cause and CVD mortality, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratios of the groups with a 6-7 vs. 0-2 cardiovascular health metrics score were 0.42 (95% CI, 0.31 to 0.59) for all-cause mortality and 0.10 (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.29) for CVD mortality.ConclusionsAmong cardiovascular health behaviors, not smoking, normal blood pressure, and recommended fasting blood glucose levels were associated with reduced risks of all-cause and CVD mortality. Meeting a greater number of cardiovascular health metrics was associated with a lower risk of all-cause and CVD mortality.

Trends in Cardiovascular Health Metrics and Associations With All-Cause and CVD Mortality Among US Adults

Recent recommendations from the American Heart Association aim to improve cardiovascular health by encouraging the general population to meet 7 cardiovascular health metrics: not smoking; being physically active; having normal blood pressure, blood glucose and total cholesterol levels, and weight; and eating a healthy diet. To examine time trends in cardiovascular health metrics and to estimate joint associations and population-attributable fractions of these metrics in relation to all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk. Study of a nationally representative sample of 44,959 US adults (≥20 years), using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1988-1994, 1999-2004, and 2005-2010 and the NHANES III Linked Mortality File (through 2006). All-cause, CVD, and ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality. Few participants met all 7 cardiovascular health metrics (2.0% [95% CI, 1.5%-2.5%] in 1988-1994, 1.2% [95% CI, 0.8%-1.9%] in 2005-2010). Among NHANES III participants, 2673 all-cause, 1085 CVD, and 576 IHD deaths occurred (median follow-up, 14.5 years). Among participants who met 1 or fewer cardiovascular health metrics, age- and sex-standardized absolute risks were 14.8 (95% CI, 13.2-16.5) deaths per 1000 person-years for all-cause mortality, 6.5 (95% CI, 5.5-7.6) for CVD mortality, and 3.7 (95% CI, 2.8-4.5) for IHD mortality. Among those who met 6 or more metrics, corresponding risks were 5.4 (95% CI, 3.6-7.3) for all-cause mortality, 1.5 (95% CI, 0.5-2.5) for CVD mortality, and 1.1 (95% CI, 0.7-2.0) for IHD mortality. Adjusted hazard ratios were 0.49 (95% CI, 0.33-0.74) for all-cause mortality, 0.24 (95% CI, 0.13-0.47) for CVD mortality, and 0.30 (95% CI, 0.13-0.68) for IHD mortality, comparing participants who met 6 or more vs 1 or fewer cardiovascular health metrics. Adjusted population-attributable fractions were 59% (95% CI, 33%-76%) for all-cause mortality, 64% (95% CI, 28%-84%) for CVD mortality, and 63% (95% CI, 5%-89%) for IHD mortality. Meeting a greater number of cardiovascular health metrics was associated with a lower risk of total and CVD mortality, but the prevalence of meeting all 7 cardiovascular health metrics was low in the study population.