Key result
Improving poor CV health is linked to ~33% lower SCD risk versus remaining consistently poor.
Why the study?
Changes in cardiovascular health status are linked to cardiovascular disease risk, but no studies have evaluated patterns of cardiovascular health change in relation to sudden cardiac death risk.
Does improvement or maintenance of ideal cardiovascular health metrics reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death in middle-aged adults?
Population
15 026 individuals 45 to 64 years of age from 4 US communities
Comparison
Patterns of CVH change over 6 years vs consistently poor CVH
Design
Prospective cohort study
Follow-up
Median 23.0 years
Authors
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May support CVH optimization to lower SCD risk; extends observational data but leaves causality open.
Cohort (n=15,026)
Yes
Does improvement or maintenance of ideal cardiovascular health metrics reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death in middle-aged adults?
Effect estimate: HR 0.67 (95% CI 0.48-0.94)
Improving or maintaining ideal cardiovascular health metrics over time is associated with a significantly lower long-term risk of sudden cardiac death.
Zhai et al. (2022) conducted a cohort in Sudden cardiac death (n=15,026). Change in cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics vs. Consistently poor CVH was evaluated on Physician adjudicated sudden cardiac death (SCD) (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.48-0.94). Compared with consistently poor cardiovascular health, improving from poor to intermediate/ideal cardiovascular health was associated with a lower risk of sudden cardiac death (HR 0.67; 95% CI 0.48-0.94).
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