Key result
A poor Life's Simple 7 score in middle age, compared to an ideal score, was associated with increased odds of high carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.10-2.56) 23.6 years later.
Why the study?
Greater arterial stiffness independently increases cardiovascular disease risk, but whether better adherence to Life's Simple 7 in middle age associates with less arterial stiffness in later life was unknown.
Does greater adherence to Life's Simple 7 in middle age reduce arterial stiffness in later life?
Cohort (n=4,232)
Yes
Does greater adherence to Life's Simple 7 in middle age reduce arterial stiffness in later life?
Greater adherence to the AHA's Life's Simple 7 in middle age is significantly associated with reduced arterial stiffness 2-3 decades later.
Supports targeting midlife CV health to potentially limit arterial aging; leaves open need for interventional confirmation.
BACKGROUND: Greater arterial stiffness is associated independently with increased cardiovascular disease risk. The American Heart Association (AHA) has recommended following "Life's Simple 7 (LS7)" to optimize cardiovascular health; we tested whether better LS7 in middle age is associated with less arterial stiffness in later life. METHODS: We studied 4,232 black and white participants aged 45-64 years at the baseline (1987-89) visit of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study cohort who also had arterial stiffness measured in 2011-13 (mean ± SD interval: 23.6 ± 1.0 years). We calculated a 14-point summary score for baseline LS7 and classified participants as having "poor" (0-4), "average" (5-9), or "ideal" (10-14) cardiovascular health. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for arterial stiffening: a high carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV, ≥13.23 m/s) or a high central pulse pressure (central PP, ≥ 82.35 mm Hg). RESULTS: The age, race, sex, and heart rate-adjusted ORs (95% CI) for high cfPWV in the "ideal," "average," and "poor" LS7 summary categories were 1 (Reference), 1.30 (1.11, 1.53), and 1.68 (1.10,2.56), respectively (P-trend = 0.0003). Similarly, the adjusted ORs (95% CI) for high central PP across LS7 summary categories were 1 (Reference), 1.48 (1.27, 1.74), and 1.63 (1.04, 2.56), respectively (P-trend <0.0001). CONCLUSION: Greater LS7 score in middle age is associated with less arterial stiffness 2-3 decades later. These findings further support the AHA recommendation to follow LS7 for cardiovascular disease prevention.
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Oyenuga et al. (2019) conducted a cohort in Cardiovascular health (n=4,232). Poor Life's Simple 7 (LS7) score vs. Ideal Life's Simple 7 (LS7) score was evaluated on High carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV, ≥13.23 m/s) (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.10-2.56, p=0.0003). A poor Life's Simple 7 score in middle age, compared to an ideal score, was associated with increased odds of high carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.10-2.56) 23.6 years later.
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