Research highlights:

• A study of nearly 4 million young people under the age of 40 in South Korea found that those with ideal cardiovascular health were more likely to develop heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease over a 12-year follow-up period. was found to be almost two-thirds lower.
• Adults with low heart health scores at study baseline in 2009-2010 who subsequently improved their cardiovascular health had lower rates of heart disease, compared with those whose heart health scores remained low. The risk of stroke and kidney disease was also reduced.

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CHICAGO, March 21, 2024 — An analysis of health data from nearly 4 million young people in South Korea shows that those with ideal cardiovascular health are more likely to suffer from heart disease later in life than the general population. It was found that the risk of developing stroke and kidney disease was approximately 65% ​​lower. Poor heart health scores, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Science Session 2024, March 18-21 in Chicago. This conference will provide the latest science on population-based health and wellness and lifestyle influences.

In its 2023 Scientific Statement and Presidential Recommendations, the American Heart Association emphasized the link between heart disease and chronic kidney disease and the importance of improving cardiovascular health to prevent them.

“Cardiovascular disease is deadly, and kidney disease is very common even among young adults,” said study lead author Hokyo Lee, MD, Ph.D., associate professor of preventive medicine at Yonsei University School of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea. Stated. . “These two diseases often coexist or make each other more likely, so they need to be prevented together. However, younger adults are ideal because they have a lower short-term risk of cardiovascular and kidney disease. The importance of heart health behaviors and factors has often been overlooked.”

In this study, researchers examined data from South Korea’s 2009-2010 National Health Checkup Program to determine how early-life cardiovascular health affects the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease later in life. We investigated whether it would have such an impact. Participants’ heart health was measured by three modifiable lifestyle behaviors and three health measures (being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking) based on the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 indicators. , blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels). (Note: In 2022, sleep health was added to the seven indicators in the Society for Optimal Cardiovascular Health’s new Life’s Essential 8 scale.)

The analysis revealed the following:

• Young people with perfect heart health scores at enrollment had a 65% lower risk of developing cardiovascular or kidney disease during 12 years of follow-up compared to those with zero ideal cardiovascular health indicators. Ta. Note: In this study, participants were not provided with any dietary measures, so their complete heart health score was 6 out of 6.
• As the heart health score increased, the risk of developing cardiovascular or kidney disease decreased over time.
• Those whose scores improved from low to high during follow-up also had a lower risk of developing cardiovascular and kidney disease than those with consistently low heart health scores.

“Less than 1% of young people had ideal heart health scores at the start of the study, but unfortunately, about half of the young people with perfect or near-perfect cardiovascular health ended up Within a few years, their heart health scores deteriorated. However, even though their cardiovascular health was perfect or near perfect, the number of young people whose scores decreased were less likely to experience cardiovascular or kidney disease. “The number of young people who did this was lower than those who had pre-existing poor heart health and remained unaffected,” Lee said. “Our research highlights the importance of achieving ideal cardiovascular health in early life and maintaining or improving it throughout life. Further efforts are needed to increase awareness among young adults about implementing and maintaining heart-healthy lifestyle behaviors early in life.”

Research background information:

• The study involved 3,836,283 Korean adults with no history of cardiovascular or kidney disease.
• Participants self-identified as female (38.2%) and male (62.8%).
• Participants ranged in age from 20 to 39 years, with a median age of 31 years at the start of the study.

Limitations of this study included not using the new Life’s Essential 8 health indicators to define cardiovascular health. Additionally, information about participants’ diets was not available and the study only included people living in South Korea, limiting the generalizability of the findings to other populations.

“The findings of this study demonstrate that early recognition of risk factors and interventions and the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors in young adulthood are critical to preventing cardiovascular and kidney disease later in life. Furthermore, the study also found that people who initially had low heart health scores, but whose cardiovascular health improved over time, were less likely to be sick compared to those with persistently low scores. “This study shows a reduced risk of cancer. This highlights the potential for positive health outcomes through lifestyle modification.”

Monica C. Serra, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Research Fellow in the Department of Gerontology, Gerontology, and Palliative Medicine at San Antonio University Health San Antonio and the Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Research, Antonio, Texas. Serra is co-chair of the program committee for EPI│Lifestyle Science Session 2024.

“Using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 metrics, which include biometrics such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, as well as modifiable behaviors such as physical activity, weight management, and smoking cessation, we provide a comprehensive picture of your heart health. “It is noteworthy that this study did not include a dietary component and recognized the addition of sleep health to the association’s new Life Essentials 8,” she said. Ta. “Overall, this study contributes valuable evidence about the importance of maintaining cardiovascular health during young adulthood in long-term disease prevention.”

Co-authors, their disclosures, and funding sources are listed in the abstract.

Research statements and conclusions presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the association. The Association makes no representations or warranties regarding its accuracy or reliability. Abstracts presented at the Society’s scientific conferences are not peer-reviewed, but are selected by an independent review committee and considered based on their potential to increase the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the conference. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

The association is primarily funded by individuals. Foundations and corporations (including pharmaceuticals, device manufacturers, and other companies) also make contributions, which help fund specific programs and events for the association. The Society has strict policies in place to ensure that these relationships do not influence scientific content. Revenues from pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies, device manufacturers, health insurance companies, and overall financial information for the association can be found here.

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The American Heart Association’s EPI│Lifestyle Science Sessions 2024 is the world’s premier conference dedicated to the latest advances in population-based science. The 2024 conference will be in-person only. Monday through Thursday, March 18th through 21st, at the Hilton Chicago. The primary objective of this conference is to promote the development and application of translational and population science to prevent heart disease and stroke and promote cardiovascular health. This session focuses on risk factors, obesity, nutrition, physical activity, genetics, metabolism, biomarkers, subclinical disease, clinical disease, healthy populations, global health and prevention-oriented clinical trials . The Epidemiology and Prevention Council, the Lifestyle Council and the Cardiometabolic Health (Lifestyle) Council jointly planned EPI│Lifestyle Science Sessions 2024. Follow the conference on Twitter. #EPILifestyle24.

About the American Heart Association

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