Global Effect of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Lifetime Estimates

This study analyzed the lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death from any cause using harmonized individual-level data from 2,078,948 participants across 133 cohorts, 39 countries, and 6 continents. Five classic risk factors hypertension, hyperlipidemia, underweight/overweight/obesity, diabetes, and smoking were evaluated. Results showed that participants with all five risk factors at age 50 had a lifetime CVD risk of 24% (women) and 38% (men), compared to 13% (women) and 21% (men) for those with no risk factors. The absence of risk factors was associated with 13.3 (women) and 10.6 (men) additional life years free of CVD, and 14.5 (women) and 11.8 (men) additional life years free of death. Modifying hypertension and smoking in midlife yielded the most significant gains in life years free of CVD and death, respectively.

This study analyzed the lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death from any cause using harmonized individual-level data from 2,078,948 participants across 133 cohorts, 39 countries, and 6 continents. Five classic risk factors hypertension, hyperlipidemia, underweight/overweight/obesity, diabetes, and smoking were evaluated. Results showed that participants with all five risk factors at age 50 had a lifetime CVD risk of 24% (women) and 38% (men), compared to 13% (women) and 21% (men) for those with no risk factors. The absence of risk factors was associated with 13.3 (women) and 10.6 (men) additional life years free of CVD, and 14.5 (women) and 11.8 (men) additional life years free of death. Modifying hypertension and smoking in midlife yielded the most significant gains in life years free of CVD and death, respectively.