Life expectancy lowered by heart risk factors

Three heart risk factors in middle age can shorten a person’s life by 15 years, according to a study of almost 20,000 men aged 40 to 69.

According to the study, 50-year-old men who smoke and have raised cholesterol and high blood pressure shorten their lives by 10 years.

The researchers medically assessed the participants almost 40 years ago and then followed up for 38 years.

“We’ve shown that men at age 50 who smoke, have high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels can expect to survive to 74 years of age, while those who have none of these risk factors can expect to live until 83,” said Dr Robert Clarke of the Clinical Trial Service Unit at the University of Oxford, who led the research team.

Death rates from heart disease, and to a lesser extent from other diseases, have steadily declined in the UK since the early 1970s, resulting in substantial improvements in life expectancy. The longer life spans are believed to result from stopping smoking, changes in diet and lifestyle, and better treatment for people with vascular disease.

“The results give people another way of looking at heart disease risk factors that can be understood more readily. If you stop smoking or take measures to deal with high blood pressure or body weight, it will translate into increased life expectancy,” said Dr Clarke.

“It also provides support for existing public health policies. Bans on smoking in public places, efforts to lower saturated fats and salt, combined with medications for those at high risk of cardiovascular disease, when taken together will result in substantial improvements in life expectancy across the population,” he added.

When researchers calculated a risk score across all available risk factors – smoking, diabetes, employment grade, blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index – men at age 50 had a 15-year shorter life expectancy.

The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) welcomed the study, saying it should encourage doctors and healthcare workers to increase their efforts towards lowering the risk factor profile of the Irish population.

 “This is a valuable piece of research, which clearly shows the need for a population health approach to risk factors like smoking, cholesterol and high blood pressure. Of all the risk factors, smoking emerged as the most important predictor of what will happen in terms of life expectancy and it is the most preventable,” said Dr Brian Maurer, IHF medical director.

“The message is clear – if you want to live longer – stop smoking and manage your blood pressure and cholesterol with your doctor,” he said.

According to Dr Maurer, Ireland’s cardiovascular mortality trends mirror those in the UK. Both have dropped since the 1970s partly due to changes in lifestyle and partly due to advances in medical treatments.

“I am sure that a similar survey carried out in Ireland would have delivered almost identical results among Irish men. This research provides us with clear evidence on the importance of reducing risk factors in individuals as a health priority. Small changes in individuals lead to major gains in the health of our nation,” he said.

The results of the study were published in the British Medical Journal. To find out more about risk factors such as smoking, blood pressure or cholesterol see www.irishheart.ie.

[Posted: Fri 18/09/2009]