Low cardiovascular risk in early midlife and quality of life in old age: a life-long follow-up study in men
Authors' conclusion
Low cardiovascular risk in early midlife was associated with greater longevity, less frailty, better quality of life, and higher levels of happiness and well-being in old age.
Study context
- Population
- Healthy men born 1919–1934, low-risk factors (non-smoking, BMI < 25 kg/m², SBP < 140 mmHg, total cholesterol < 6.0 mmol/L, one-hour post-load glucose < 9.0 mmol/L) measured at mean age 42 years907 assessed at age 79
- Participants
- 2,690 men
- Exposure
- Number of low-risk factors in early midlife
- 0 factorsn = 59reference
- 1 factorn = 422
- 2 factorsn = 855
- 3 factorsn = 832
- 4 factorsn = 417
- 5 factorsn = 105
Methodological detailslife-long follow-up, 2524 men [93.8%] died by 31 January 2025
- Life-long follow-up
- 2524 men [93.8%] died by 31 January 2025
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Proportion reaching 90 years increased with number of low-risk factors
P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Frailty, happiness, psychological wellbeing at mean age 79 · mean age 79 years
Frailty
P = 0.013
Happiness 5 factors 8.0 · 0 factors 7.5 · P = 0.053
Psychological wellbeing
P = 0.03
- Frailty, happiness, psychological wellbeing at mean age 79: n = 907, response rate 63%
Frailty, happiness, psychological wellbeing at mean age 79 · mean age 79 years
- Better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in several domains with five factors
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it