Despite major advances over recent decades, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States and around the world. Recent data suggest that earlier declines in CVD incidence and mortality have slowed, and, in some cases, reversed, raising new concerns about population heart health, particularly among young adults.
A new study from researchers at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine found that poor or worsening heart health during young adulthood is linked to a higher risk of developing CVD later in life.
While previous studies have begun to explore cardiovascular health in young adults and its relationship to early-onset CVD, few have examined long-term patterns of change during this critical life stage. This study’s findings show that change matters and improving heart health can significantly lower future risk, and the earlier it is achieved and sustained, the greater the benefit.
To measure heart health, the researchers used the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) metrics, introduced in 2022, which assess factors such as diet, physical activity, sleep, weight, tobacco use, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. The team analysed LE8 scores from several thousand participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, beginning at age 18 and tracking changes over two decades. They then examined how these trajectories predicted cardiovascular outcomes, including heart attacks and strokes, over the following 20 years.
The results showed that individuals who consistently maintained high LE8 scores had the lowest risk for cardiovascular events later in life. Those who maintained only moderate heart health faced double the risk, while those whose scores declined from moderate to low over time had a tenfold increase in risk.
According to the researchers, these findings underscore the importance of tracking heart health over time, not just taking a single snapshot. Understanding how heart health evolves in early adulthood provides powerful insight into overall lifespan and healthspan, they note. Young adults should prioritise their cardiovascular health as early as possible to reap the greatest rewards of longer, healthier lives.
Source: Boston University School of Medicine
Image Credit: iStock
