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
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
- Outcome
- Recurrent events
- Follow-up
- 21 359.2 person-years of follow-up
Methodological detailsAtherosclerosis Risk in Communities, Cox models, LS7 assessed at Visit 1 (1987-1989) and Visit 3 (1993-1995), Recurrent CHD identified through December 31, 2018
- Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities
- Cox models
- LS7 assessed at Visit 1 (1987-1989) and Visit 3 (1993-1995)
- Recurrent CHD identified through December 31, 2018
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Experienced recurrent events
561
42.2%
Further findings
Recurrent CHD by change in LS7 category
| Comparison | Hazard ratio (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| LS7 improved from poor/fair to moderate/idealReduced risk | 0.54 (0.40–0.74) | |
| LS7 declined from moderate/ideal to poor/fairIncreased risk | 1.82 (1.44–2.30) | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | Hazard ratio (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Recurrent CHD by cumulative LS7 score and change in LS7 scoreQ4 of cumulative score vs Q1 of cumulative score | 0.38 (0.30–0.49) | |
| Recurrent CHD by cumulative LS7 score and change in LS7 scoreQ4 of Δscore vs Q1 of Δscore | 0.51 (0.38–0.68) | |
| 0.20.5125Hazard ratio (log scale) |
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.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it