Key result
Diet and physical activity show no link to aortic dissection risk, unlike smoking and hypertension.
Why the study?
Hypertension and smoking are established risk factors for aortic dissection, but whether other lifestyle factors influence risk is unclear.
Does diet quality and physical activity reduce incident aortic dissection in participants from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study?
Does diet quality and physical activity reduce incident aortic dissection in participants from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study?
Diet quality and physical activity are not significantly associated with aortic dissection risk, reinforcing that blood pressure control and smoking cessation remain the primary preventive measures.
Prioritizes BP control and smoking cessation for aortic dissection prevention; challenges hypothesis that diet quality or physical activity lowers risk.
Background: Hypertension and smoking are well-known risk factors for aortic dissection (AD), but it is unclear whether other lifestyle factors influence the risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between diet quality, physical activity, and risk of AD. Methods: The study included 28,094 participants from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study, recruited between 1991 and 1996 and followed through national health registers until 31 December 2022. Diet quality was assessed using a six-component Diet Quality Index. Incident AD was identified through ICD-9/ICD-10 codes in the Swedish National Patient Register. Associations were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: During a median follow-up of 26.6 years, 130 participants developed AD. Higher age (HR 1.76/one standard deviation increment, 95% CI 1.41–2.20), male sex (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.06–2.34), hypertension (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.01–2.44), and current smoking (HR 3.04, 95% CI 1.86–4.98) were each independently associated with increased AD risk. No significant associations were found for diet quality and physical activity with AD risk. Conclusions: No associations were found between diet quality and physical activity and AD risk. Blood pressure control and smoking cessation are key preventive measures to reduce incidence of AD.
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Parvan et al. (2026) studied this question. Diet quality and physical activity were not associated with aortic dissection risk, whereas current smoking (HR 3.04) and hypertension (HR 1.57) significantly increased the risk.
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