Living Longer, Healthier Lives: The Power of Cardiovascular Health Metrics
Have you ever wondered if your heart health could influence how long you live without experiencing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)? A recent study aimed to answer this question by examining the association between cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics and life expectancy in individuals free of CVD events. The study was based on the concept of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3PM), which aims to tailor medical treatment to individual patient needs.
The study followed 92,795 participants over a median period of 13 years. The researchers found that maintaining ideal CVH could significantly reduce the risk of developing CVD events and premature mortality. Specifically, women with ideal CVH at age 35 lived about 5 years longer without CVD events compared to those with poor CVH metrics. For men, the difference was even more pronounced, with ideal CVH associated with nearly 7 years longer life expectancy free of CVD events.
In conclusion, maintaining an ideal CVH status can lead to a lower risk of premature death and a longer life expectancy, both in the general population and in patients with CVD. This suggests that promoting a higher CVH score or ideal CVH status could reduce the burden of CVD events and extend disease-free life expectancy. This approach aligns with the concept of PPPM/3PM, offering a cost-effective strategy for personalized medicine for potential CVD patients.