Association Between Life's Simple 7 and Noncardiovascular Disease: The Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Abstract

BackgroundThe American Heart Association introduced the Life's Simple 7 (LS7) metrics to assess and promote cardiovascular health. We examined the association between the LS7 metrics and noncardiovascular disease.Methods and ResultsWe studied 6506 men and women aged between 45 and 84 years, enrolled in the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Median follow‐up time was 10.2 years. Each component of the LS7 metrics (smoking, body mass index, physical activity, diet, total cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose) was assigned points, 0 indicates “poor” category; 1, “intermediate,” and 2, “ideal.” The LS7 score, ranged from 0 to 14, was created from the points and categorized as optimal (11–14), average (9–10), and inadequate (0–8). Hazard ratios and event rates per 1000 person‐years were calculated for outcomes based on self‐reported hospitalizations with the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, diagnoses of cancer, chronic kidney disease, pneumonia, deep venous thromboembolism/pulmonary embolism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, and hip fracture. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, and education. Overall, noncardiovascular disease event rates were lower with increasing LS7 scores. With the inadequate LS7 score as reference, an optimal score was associated with a decreased risk for noncardiovascular disease events. The hazard ratio for cancer was, 0.80 (0.64–0.98); chronic kidney disease, 0.38 (0.27–0.54); pneumonia, 0.57 (0.40–0.80); deep venous thromboembolism/pulmonary embolism, 0.52 (0.33–0.82), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 0.51 (0.31–0.83).ConclusionsThe American Heart Association's LS7 score identified individuals who were vulnerable to multiple chronic nonvascular conditions. These results suggest that improving cardiovascular health will also reduce the burden of cancer and other chronic diseases.

Associations of ideal cardiovascular health with GlycA, a novel inflammatory marker: The Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

“…It comprises the following seven health and behavioral metrics: smoking status, physical activity, diet, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, total cholesterol levels, and fasting blood glucose . Optimal CVH, defined by the LS7 score, has previously been associated with self‐reported health status and with a lower incidence of both CVD and non‐CVD outcomes, including lower mortality . Importantly, the LS7 framework represents a shift from focusing on disease (ie, CVD) to focusing on cardiovascular wellness (ie, CVH).…”

Is self‐rated health associated with ideal cardiovascular health? The Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

“…Points were summed, yielding a total CVH score ranging from 0 to 14 . As previously reported, CVH scores of 0 to 8, 9 to 10, and 11 to 14 were considered as inadequate, average, and optimal CVH, respectively …”

“…The AHA position statement recommends that individuals and populations meet specific criteria for 7 health metrics, collectively known as the AHA Life's Simple 7 (LS7), to be classified as having ideal CVH . Researchers have established an association between ideal CVH and a decrease in the risk for CVD, non‐CVD, and all‐cause mortality, in addition to lower healthcare costs, improvement in cognitive functioning, and higher quality of life…”

“…2 The AHA position statement recommends that individuals and populations meet specific criteria for 7 health metrics, collectively known as the AHA Life's Simple 7 (LS7), to be classified as having ideal CVH. 1 Researchers have established an association between ideal CVH and a decrease in the risk for CVD, [3][4][5] non-CVD, 6 and all-cause mortality, 7 in addition to lower healthcare costs, 8 improvement in cognitive functioning, 9 and higher quality of life. 10 Epidemiological studies identify self-rated health (SRH) as a simple, subjective measure of health status that consistently predicts morbidity and mortality in different populations even after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors for chronic diseases.…”

Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease through population-wide motivational strategies: insights from using smartphones in stroke prevention

“…The app has the potential to save millions of lives around the world, by being translated into the world's most spoken languages (covering over 90% of the world population), motivating and empowering people to reduce their risk of not only stroke but also other major NCDs that share common risk factors with stroke, such as ischaemic heart disease, dementia and diabetes mellitus. It was suggested that improving CVD health by improving control of CVD risk factors will also reduce the burden of cancer and other chronic disease 75. Such a motivational population-wide strategy could open a new page in primary prevention of not only stroke/CVD but also other NCDs worldwide.…”