AHA: Seven preventive measures may reduce HF risk

Following the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 checklist may reduce HF risk in middle-aged adults, according to new study data published in Circulation: Heart Failure.

Matthew Nayor, MD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and colleagues analyzed data from the Framingham Offspring Study to study the relationship between the Life’s Simple 7 checklist and HF. The checklist includes the following CV-prevention measures: manage BP; control cholesterol; reduce blood glucose; perform physical activity; eat better; lose weight; and stop smoking.

Participants were assigned a score of 0 (poor status), 1 (intermediate status) or 2 (ideal status) for each of the seven measures. An ideal total AHA CV health score is 14.

The researchers followed 3,201 participants (mean age, 59 years) for about 12 years. During that period, 188 patients developed HF. Nayor and colleagues found that with each increase of 1 point on the AHA CV health score, participants reduced their risk for HF by 23%.

The researchers defined HF based on the presence of two major or one major and two minor criteria. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea or orthopnea, increased venous pressure, distended neck veins and pulmonary edema all constituted as major criteria. Minor criteria included ankle edema, nocturnal cough and dyspnea on exertion.

Researchers also measured the rate of cardiac remodeling and found a connection between low AHA CV health scores and unhealthy changes in the heart’s structure and function.

After adjustment for age and sex, participants with a higher AHA cardiovascular health score had lower left ventricular mass, LV wall thickness, LV diastolic dimension and left atrial dimension (P < .01 for all) and had 12% to 15% lower risk for prevalent LV concentric remodeling and concentric hypertrophy (P < .0001 for both). More than half (56%) of the participants with a higher AHA CV health score were women (mean age, 58 years).

The researchers concluded that the AHA CV health score was inversely related to HF (HR per 1-point higher CV score = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.72-0.83). This association was weakened somewhat, however, after adjustment for LV mass and interim MI (HR = 0.84; 95% CI, 0.76-0.93).

The researchers noted several limitations of the study. Most participants were white and of European ancestry. In addition, the AHA’s Life’s Simple 7 score was only measured at the beginning of the study.

“Even though there is awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, many people don’t act on those messages,” Vanessa Xanthakis, PhD, assistant professor of medicine and biostatistics at Boston University, said in a press release. “This study points to the importance of knowing your numbers and speaking to your doctor about improving your score on each health metric and trying to get as close to ideal status as possible.” – by Tracey Romero

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

Source: www.healio.com