Coronary disease & ACSResearch article

Association Between Temporal Changes in Life’s Simple 7 Cardiovascular Health Metrics and Recurrent Coronary Heart Disease in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Circ Popul Health OutcomesPublished

  • US ARIC study (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities)
  • Cox models
  • LS7 assessed at Visit 1 (1987-1989) and Visit 3 (1993-1995)
  • Recurrent coronary heart disease (CHD) identified through December 31, 2018

Authors' conclusion

Deterioration in LS7 during follow-up was associated with an increased risk of recurrent CHD, whereas improvement in LS7 was associated with a reduced risk. These findings underscore the importance of preserving and improving cardiovascular health and support the potential value of longitudinal cardiovascular health assessment in the ongoing management of patients with CHD.

Study context

Population
Patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in the US ARIC studyparticipants included in transition analyses, mean [SD] age, 55.2 [5.6] years, 50.2% women
Participants
1,330 patients
Comparison
association between changes in LS7 and recurrent CHD risk

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Recurrent events · 21 359.2 person-years of follow-up

experienced recurrent events

561 (42.2%)

Further findings

Recurrent CHD by change in LS7 category

Comparisonhazard ratio (95% CI)
LS7 improved from poor/fair to moderate/ideal · reduced risk0.54 (0.40–0.74)
LS7 declined from moderate/ideal to poor/fair · increased risk1.82 (1.44–2.30)
Outcomehazard ratio (95% CI)
Recurrent CHD by cumulative LS7 score and change in LS7 score — Q4 of cumulative score vs Q1 of cumulative score0.38 (0.30–0.49)
Recurrent CHD by cumulative LS7 score and change in LS7 score — Q4 of Δscore vs Q1 of Δscore0.51 (0.38–0.68)

Original publication

Association Between Temporal Changes in Life’s Simple 7 Cardiovascular Health Metrics and Recurrent Coronary Heart Disease in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Circ Popul Health Outcomes. Published 30 July 2026. doi:10.1161/circoutcomes.125.013159

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it