Does a low risk-factor profile reduce long-term mortality and increase life expectancy?
Maintaining a low risk-factor profile (favorable cholesterol and blood pressure, non-smoking, no diabetes) is associated with significantly lower long-term mortality and increased life expectancy.
Based on these very large cohort studies, for individuals with favorable levels of cholesterol and blood pressure who do not smoke and do not have diabetes, MI, or ECG abnormalities, long-term mortality is much lower and longevity is much greater. A substantial increase in the proportion of the population at lifetime low risk could contribute decisively to ending the CHD epidemic.
Stamler et al. (Wed,) studied this question.