A combination of a healthy diet, moderate alcohol, physical activity, nonsmoking, and healthy weight was associated with a 92% decreased risk of primary MI (95% CI, 72%-98%).
Cohort (n=24,444)
Does a combination of low-risk dietary and lifestyle behaviors reduce the risk of primary myocardial infarction in healthy postmenopausal women?
Adherence to a combination of healthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors may prevent the vast majority of primary myocardial infarctions in postmenopausal women.
Effect estimate: 92% decreased risk (95% CI 72%-98%)
BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on the benefit of combining healthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors in the prevention of myocardial infarction (MI) in women. METHODS: We used factor analysis to identify a low-risk behavior-based dietary pattern in 24 444 postmenopausal women from the population-based prospective Swedish Mammography Cohort who were free of diagnosed cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus at baseline (September 15, 1997). We also defined 3 low-risk lifestyle factors: nonsmoking, waist-hip ratio less than the 75th percentile (/= 5 g of alcohol per day), along with the 3 low-risk lifestyle behaviors, was associated with 92% decreased risk (95% confidence interval, 72%-98%) compared with findings in women without any low-risk diet and lifestyle factors. This combination of healthy behaviors, present in 5%, may prevent 77% of MIs in the study population. CONCLUSION: Most MIs in women may be preventable by consuming a healthy diet and moderate amounts of alcohol, being physically active, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Åkesson et al. (2007) conducted a cohort in Primary prevention of myocardial infarction (n=24,444). Low-risk diet and lifestyle behaviors vs. Women without any low-risk diet and lifestyle factors was evaluated on Primary myocardial infarction (92% decreased risk, 95% CI 72%-98%). A combination of a healthy diet, moderate alcohol, physical activity, nonsmoking, and healthy weight was associated with a 92% decreased risk of primary MI (95% CI, 72%-98%).