Adherence to Life's Essential 8 and incident chronic kidney disease: a prospective study of 147,988 UK Biobank participants

Association of Life's Essential 8 with risk of incident cardiovascular disease and mortality among adults with chronic kidney disease

Background

The American Heart Association recently released an updated algorithm for evaluating cardiovascular health (CVH), Life's Essential 8 (LE8). However, few studies have examined the association of LE8 with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality among individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated whether LE8 was associated with subsequent risk of CVD and mortality in the Chinese population of adults with CKD.

Methods

This prospective study included 18,716 adults (55.4 ± 14.0 years, 77.9 % men) with CKD free of CVD at baseline from the Kailuan study. A LE8 score (range 0-100 points) was constructed based on diet, physical activity, smoking, sleep duration, body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure. Incident CVD and mortality were identified by electronic health records and registers. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

During a median follow-up of 14.0 and 14.4 years, 2117 cases of CVD and 4190 deaths were documented. After adjusting for potential confounders, comparing the high LE8 score (80-100 points) to the low LE8 score (<50 points), the multivariable HRs (95 % CIs) were 0.28 (0.20, 0.40) for CVD, 0.14 (0.06, 0.34) for myocardial infarction, 0.35 (0.25, 0.50) for total stroke, and 0.68 (0.56, 0.83) for all-cause mortality, respectively.

Conclusions

Among patients with CKD, greater adherence to CVH, as defined by LE8, was significantly associated with a lower risk of CVD and all-cause mortality.

Association between cardiovascular health, cancer and its prognosis: A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Whether cardiovascular health (CVH) contributes to a reduced risk of cancer incidence and improves cancer prognosis remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between CVH and risks of incident cancer and its subsequent CVD development and mortality.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

METHODS

This study obtained data from the UK Biobank study. CVH was assessed based on Life's Essential 8 (LE8) metrics. The primary outcome was incident cancer, which was defined using ICD-10 code C00-C97, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer. The hazard ratio and 95 % confidence intervals between CVH and risk of incident cancer and risk of CVD and death after diagnosis of cancer were assessed using multistate Markov and Cox proportional hazards regression models. CVD includes coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and stroke. The median follow-up period was 12.7 years, and follow-up ended on December 1, 2022.

RESULTS

In total, 218,587 participants were eligible for analysis. During the follow-up, 27,603 (12.6 %) participants experienced incident cancer, 26,630 (12.2 %) experienced incident CVD and 12,399 (5.7 %) died. In fully-adjusted multi-state models, increased CVH scores were significantly associated with a reduced risk of incident cancer (HR per 10-point increment of CVH scores: 0.98, 95 % CI: 0.96-0.99), incident CVD (0.90, 0.89-0.91), and death (0.84, 0.81-0.87). Higher CVH scores were also associated with lower risks of incident CVD (0.90, 0.86-0.94) and death (0.89, 0.87-0.92) among cancer survivors. Notably, participants with a high Townsend deprivation index demonstrated the strongest associations of CVH with cancer and its prognosis, compared to those with low or intermediate levels of the index (P-for-interaction <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

CVH is notably associated with the reduced risk of cancer and its subsequent development of CVD and death, which is more evident among participants with lower socioeconomic status. Our results highlight the potential of promoting LE8 adherence for primary and secondary prevention of cancer.

Associations between life's essential 8 and arthritis among adults in United States: a national-wide longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Arthritis, a common condition in the U.S., is caused by autoimmune reactions, osteoarticular injuries, and uric acid deposition. It affects around 25% of adults and is strongly linked to cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8) composite, which considers cardiovascular health factors, has been studied for its predictive capacity in assessing arthritis risk. The study aims to provide tailored prevention recommendations and monitor factors associated with arthritis within the LE8 framework specifically for arthritic individuals.

METHODS

This population-based study used data from the U.S. NHANES (2017-2020) for adults aged 20 + . Multivariate logistic and restricted cubic spline modeling explored the relationship between LE8 and arthritis, revealing significant nonlinearity (P < 0.001). Gradient Boosting Decision Trees were employed to conduct a predictive model of Arthritis risk.

RESULTS

Through study, we found that idealer LE8 scores correlated with poorer arthritis risk. Subgroup analyses ideallighted poorer scores for smoking (P < 0.002, poor_socre and intermediate_score) and physical activity(P = 0.001, poor_score) as significant risk factors. Gradient Boosting Decision Trees predicted disease risk, with age, HDL cholesterol, and blood pressure identified as the three most significant predictive factors.

CONCLUSION

The LE8 score in U.S. adults shows a negative association with arthritis outcomes, with arthritis prevalence decreasing as the score increases. poorer Smoke and Physical Exercise Time components and intermediate Blood Glucose scores may be arthritis risk factors. The LE8 may help identify arthritis risk early and reduce its burden.

Associations of Dietary Zinc Supplementation and Sleep Patterns with Chronic Kidney Disease Risk: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have indicated that both dietary zinc supplementation and sleep patterns may influence the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Additionally, it is established that dietary zinc can enhance sleep quality. Despite these insights, the interplay between zinc supplementation and sleep patterns, and their combined effect on CKD progression, is still not fully understood.

METHODS

This population-based cohort study used UK Biobank data (2006-2010) and employed cox regression models to assess the associations between dietary zinc supplementation, sleep patterns, and their combined effects on CKD.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 14.8 years, 22,384 new CKD cases were identified. Zinc supplementation reduced CKD risk in individuals with poor (HR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.50-0.98) and moderate (HR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81-0.98) sleep patterns but not in those with healthy sleep (HR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.89-1.14). A significant interaction between zinc supplementation and sleep patterns was observed (p = 0.017), with sensitivity analyses confirming the results.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate a significant association between dietary zinc supplementation and reduced CKD risk, especially in individuals with poor sleep patterns. Further studies are needed to explore zinc supplementation as a targeted intervention for those at higher CKD risk due to poor sleep.

Life's Essential 8 and risks of mortality and cardiovascular morbidity in individuals with PRISm and its associations with transition trajectories of PRISm

BACKGROUND

Although morbidity and mortality are reportedly increased in individuals with preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm), little is known about how to optimise PRISm-related health.

AIMS

Is Life's Essential 8 (LE8) associated with mortality and cardiovascular morbidity in individuals with PRISm and with PRISm transition trajectories?

METHODS

Participants with PRISm (n=31 943) with complete data on LE8 and 23 179 individuals with two spirometry measurements were included from the UK Biobank. Eight health components were used to create the LE8 score (0-100). Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess associations of LE8 with cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality. Multinomial logistic regression models were conducted to assess associations between LE8 and transition trajectories of PRISm.

RESULTS

Among participants with PRISm, 3113 (9.75%), 25 254 (79.06%) and 3576 (11.19%) were categorised as high (LE8≥80), moderate (50≤LE8<80) and low LE8 (LE8<50) score groups, respectively. Compared with the high LE8 group, the low LE8 group demonstrated higher risks of cardiovascular disease (HR: 2.702, 95% CI 2.391 to 3.054) and all-cause (2.496, 2.082 to 2.993), cardiovascular (4.165, 2.672 to 6.493) and respiratory mortality (4.103, 1.866 to 9.020). Individuals with low LE8 score (vs high LE8) had higher odds to transition from normal spirometry to PRISm (OR: 2.238, 95% CI 1.638 to 3.057) and lower odds to transition from PRISm to normal spirometry (OR: 0.506, 95% CI 0.339 to 0.757).

CONCLUSION

A lower LE8 score was associated with increased risks of cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality in PRISm. A lower LE8 score was related to higher likelihood of developing PRISm and lower likelihood of PRISm recovery.

Association between life's crucial 9 and kidney stones: a population-based study

Purpose

This study examined the association between the Life's Crucial 9 (LC9) score and kidney stone prevalence in U.S. adults.

Methods

Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2007 to 2014, this cross-sectional analysis focused on adult participants with kidney stone onset or recurrence. LC9 scores were divided into four quartiles for analysis. Weighted multivariable logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) modeling, threshold effect analysis, and subgroup analyses were employed to evaluate the relationship between LC9 scores and kidney stone prevalence.

Results

The study included 24,669 participants with an average age of 46.05 ± 0.34 years and a mean LC9 score of 73.76 ± 0.25. The overall prevalence of kidney stones was 8.45%, while the average recurrence rate stood at 2.96%. Importantly, for each one-point increase in the LC9 score, the incidence of kidney stones dropped by 1.2% (95% CI: 0.979 to 0.997, p = 0.014). Compared to the lowest quartile (Q1), the Q4 group exhibited a 0.305-fold higher recurrence rate (95% CI: 0.159 to 0.586, p < 0.001). Interaction analysis showed that race and gout significantly influenced the relationship between the LC9 score and kidney stone risk. Additionally, curve fitting and threshold effect analysis demonstrated a nonlinear association between LC9 scores and kidney stone recurrence, with a breakpoint identified at 72.777.

Conclusion

An elevated LC9 score correlates with a lower risk of both kidney stone formation and recurrence. Maintaining an optimal LC9 score could be an effective approach for preventing kidney stones.

Cardiovascular health and risks of atrial fibrillation and its prognosis

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia around the world with an increased risk of a broad spectrum of adverse comorbidities and death. Whether cardiovascular health (CVH) is associated with AF development remains unclear.

Methods

238,420 participants without cardiovascular disease at baseline were selected from the UK Biobank study cohort from 2006 to 2010. CVH was defined based on "Life's Essential 8″ scores. Sex-specific multi-state Markov and flexible parametric survival models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) for the associations of CVH with incident AF and its prognosis.

Results

In fully-adjusted models, CVH is significantly associated with a reduced risk of incident AF among both men and women, after accounting for the potential impact of death. Among AF patients without other evaluated diseases, a higher CVH score was generally linked with a reduced risk of death in both sexes. Among AF patients with incident prognostic diseases, only CVH associated with death following heart failure (0.78, 0.63-0.97) was observed among men, whereas CVH was significantly associated with death following coronary heart disease (0.80, 0.69-0.93), stroke (0.73, 0.61-0.89) and dementia (0.79, 0.71-1.03) among women.

Conclusions

We found significant associations between CVH and the risk reduction of incident AF and its prognostic outcomes, with these associations being more pronounced among women. Findings suggest a potential of screening CVH for both primary prevention of new-onset AF and the secondary prevention to improve AF prognosis.

Associations between asthma and Life's Essential 8: a cross-sectional study

Background

Asthma is a serious respiratory disease attributed to multiple factors. The Life's Essential 8 (LE8), introduced by the American Heart Association, aims to improve and maintain cardiovascular health. However, the correlation between LE8 components and asthma remains unclear. We hypothesized that LE8 is a protective factor against asthma.

Materials and methods

Multiple logistic regression analysis, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, and subgroup analysis were used to analyze the data collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2001 to 2018.

Results

A total of 3,360 participants with asthma were included in the analysis. With all confounders controlled for, LE8 scores were negatively correlated with asthma prevalence (odds ratio (OR) per 10-point increment, 0.85 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.82-0.88]). Compared to low LE8 scores, moderate and high LE8 scores were associated with reduced asthma risk, with adjusted ORs (95% CIs) of 0.59 (0.51-0.68) and 0.48 (0.39-0.58), respectively. Non-linear correlations were observed between LE8 scores and asthma (p non-linear = 0.01) and between health factor scores and asthma (p non-linear = 0.01). However, a linear dose-response correlation was noted between health behavior scores and asthma (p non-linear = 0.30). Subgroup analysis showed no significant interaction effects (p > 0.05), except in the sex and drinking status subgroups (p for interaction = 0.02).

Conclusion

Asthma is associated with components of LE8, which warrants further attention and may contribute to reducing asthma prevalence.

Association of life's essential 8 and asthma: mediating effect of inflammation and oxidative stress

BACKGROUND

The association of cardiovascular health (CVH) with asthma risk in U.S. adults remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the association of Life's Essential 8 (LE8), a measurement of CVH, with asthma and investigate the potential mediating effect of inflammation and oxidative stress.

METHODS

The data was obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 2005-2018. LE8 score (range 0 ∼ 100) was measured and categorized as low (<50), moderate (50 ∼ <80), and high (≥80) CVH. Survey-weighted logistic regression and restricted cubic spline model were employed to explore the association between LE8 score and asthma. Mediation analyses were conducted to identify the mediating effects of inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers.

RESULTS

This study included 10,932 participants aged ≥ 20 years, among whom 890 (8.14%) reported prevalent asthma. After adjusting for all covariates, the odd ratios (OR) for asthma were 0.67 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.48, 0.94) in the moderate CVH group and 0.52 (95% CI: 0.34, 0.79) in the high CVH group compared with the low CVH group, respectively. The OR for asthma was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.78, 0.93) for every 10 score increase in LE8 score, and linear dose-response relationship was observed (p = 0.0642). Mediation analyses showed that inflammation and oxidative stress mediated 15.97% and 11.50% of the association between LE8 score and asthma, respectively (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

LE8 score was negatively associated with asthma, and inflammation and oxidative stress partially mediated this association. It is recommended that maintaining optimal CVH may prevent asthma.

Life's Essential 8, genetic susceptibility, and risk of incident pancreatic cancer: A prospective cohort study

The association between the American Heart Association (AHA) Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and the risk of pancreatic cancer (PC) remains unclear. Our goal was to assess the relationships between LE8, genetic susceptibility, and PC risk. This cohort consisted of 234,102 participants from the UK Biobank. The components of LE8 include diet, nicotine exposure, sleep, physical activity, blood glucose, body mass index, blood lipids, and blood pressure. LE8 is classified into three categories: low cardiovascular health (CVH), moderate CVH, and high CVH. Measurements were made using Cox proportional risk models to estimate impact of associations between LE8, genetic susceptibility, and incidence of PC in participants. Compared to participants with low LE8 scores, those with moderate and high LE8 scores had a 53% (HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.39-0.57) and 70% (HR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.22-0.41) lower risk of developing PC, respectively. Interestingly, among individuals with high genetic risk, high LE8 scores were associated with greater benefits (HR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.15-0.40), whereas the protective effect was weaker among those with low genetic risk (HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.21-0.75). Participants with a high LE8 score and a low polygenic risk score (PRS) had the lowest risk of PC (HR, 0.19; 95% CI: 0.11-0.33). Furthermore, we observed a significant additive interaction between LE8 and PRS. A higher LE8 score is associated with a lower risk of PC, especially for participants with a high PRS. These findings have important implications for participants most genetically predisposed to PC and for targeted strategies for PC prevention.

Life's Essential 8 and cardiovascular disease in women with a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes

AIMS

To assess whether better cardiovascular health is associated with a lower long-term risk of CVD in women with a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs).

METHODS

Using data from the UK Biobank prospective cohort, we included 2,263 participants with prior APOs and 107,260 participants without prior APOs. Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score was assessed at baseline. Multivariable-adjusted Cox models were used to estimate the associations between LE8 score and CVD events.

RESULTS

Over a median 13.5 years of follow-up, 11,134 incident CVD events were documented. Among women with prior APOs, the incidence of total CVD was significantly lower in the top tertile compared to the bottom tertile, with a HR (95% CI) of 0.43 (0.29, 0.65). A similar trend was observed in women without APOs, with an HR (95% CI) of 0.55 (0.53, 0.58). With respect to the individual CVD outcomes, among women with APOs, only the associations with coronary heart disease, HR (95% CI) for T3 vs T1: 0.30 (0.17, 0.55) and atrial fibrillation, 0.47 (0.24, 0.91), achieved statistical significance. Women with high LE8 score and prior APOs had a similar long-term cardiovascular risk compared to women with high LE8 score and no prior APOs, 0.95 (0.63, 1.44).

CONCLUSIONS

Among women with a history of APOs, better cardiovascular health as assessed using LE8 was associated with a significantly lower incidence of CVD, particularly coronary heart disease and atrial fibrillation. The excess risk associated with APOs appears to be attenuated among those with a high LE8 score.

Associations Between Life's Essential 8 and Major Ocular Diseases in the American Middle-Aged and Elderly Population

PURPOSE

To explore the correlation between cardiovascular health (CVH) and ocular diseases, given their shared risk factors and biological mechanisms, this study utilizes the newly updated Life's Essential 8 (LE8) algorithm.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

This analysis, conducted from February 15 to April 1, 2024, in Changchun, includes data from 4146 participants aged 40 and above, drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database (2005-2008). It covers information on visual health status, dietary habits through interviews, and professional ophthalmological examinations. Participants' CVH status was assessed using the LE8 algorithm, and relationships with major ocular diseases such as retinopathy, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration were explored through weighted logistic regression analysis, restricted cubic splines, stratified analysis, and sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS

After multivariable adjustment, lower LE8 scores showed a significant positive relationship with any ocular disease (odds ratio [OR]: 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39-2.96, P = .001), any objectively determined ocular disease (OR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.48-3.38, P < .001), retinopathy (OR: 2.88, 95% CI: 1.89-4.41, P < .001), diabetic retinopathy (OR: 10.23, 95% CI: 3.11-33.61, P < .001), and glaucoma (OR: 2.76, 95% CI: 1.47-5.21, P = .003), with all trends significant (all P < .01). Additionally, lower scores in the behavioral subdomain were significantly correlated with an elevated risk of cataracts (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.03-2.04). Subgroup analyses revealed more pronounced negative correlations between LE8 and retinopathy among females and those suffering from chronic kidney disease.

CONCLUSIONS

A low CVH score was linked to an increased likelihood of ocular diseases in a US-populated-based study. This correlation supports the potential benefits of enhancing cardiovascular wellness to mitigate the development of ocular conditions.

Extreme temperature events, "Life's Essential 8", and prevalence of chronic kidney disease: A nationally representative surveillance in China

The population disease burden caused by extreme temperature events has been increasing. However, research on the long-term effects of extreme temperature events on chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as the combined effects with individual behaviors and metabolic factors is still lacking. Based on 176,874 participants from the most recent nationally representative surveillance on CKD and validated high spatial resolution (0.1°) remote-sensing products, this study investigated the associations between extreme temperature events in the preceding five years before investigation and CKD (defined by reduced renal function or albuminuria) prevalence. We also investigated the associations between "Life's Essential 8", a recognized scale to evaluate overall cardiovascular health (CVH) based on individual behaviors and metabolic indicators and CKD prevalence, as well as its combined effects with extreme temperature events. One additional day of heat waves and cold spells per year was associated with increased ORs of CKD [1.10 (95 % CI: 1.08, 1.11) and 1.07 (95 % CI: 1.05, 1.09), respectively]. Meanwhile, per standard deviation (SD) increment in health behavior score (SD = 16.1), health factor score (SD = 18.4), and overall CVH score (SD = 12.4) were associated with decreased ORs of CKD [0.92 (95 % CI: 0.90, 0.93), 0.60 (95 % CI: 0.59, 0.61), and 0.64 (95 % CI: 0.63, 0.65, respectively]. Relative to higher heat wave & lower CVH score group, the ORs of CKD were 0.87 (95 % CI: 0.84, 0.90), 0.51 (95 % CI: 0.48, 0.53), and 0.42 (95 % CI: 0.40, 0.44) in lower & lower, higher & higher, and lower & higher group, respectively. Our findings underscore the importance of considering the synergistic effects of individual behavioral and metabolic factors for strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on CKD.

Life's Essential 8, genetic susceptibility and the risk of psoriatic disease: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Psoriatic disease (PsD) is closely associated with cardiovascular (CV) disease. The Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score is a new metric to assess CV health (CVH), where a higher score indicates better CVH. However, the longitudinal association between LE8 score and the risk of PsD remains uncertain.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate, in a cohort study, the association between LE8 score, genetic susceptibility and the risk of PsD.

METHODS

This cohort study included 261 642 participants in the UK Biobank without PsD at baseline. LE8 comprises eight indicators: diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep health, body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose and blood pressure. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the association between participants' LE8 scores, genetic risk of PsD and the risk of PsD. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

RESULTS

During an average follow-up of 12.3 years, 1501 participants developed PsD. Compared with participants with low LE8 scores, the HRs of developing PsD for those with moderate and high LE8 scores were 0.51 (95% CI 0.43-0.59) and 0.34 (95% CI 0.27-0.42) after adjustments, respectively. Dose-response analysis revealed a linear negative association between continuous LE8 score and the risk of developing PsD (P < 0.001), with no evidence of nonlinear association detected. Genetic susceptibility to PsD did not modify this association (P-interaction = 0.63). Subgroup analyses revealed that women had a more pronounced beneficial association between LE8 scores and PsD risk (P-interaction = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that a higher LE8 score, regardless of genetic risk, is associated with a lower risk of PsD, particularly in women. Consequently, maintaining good CVH status is recommended to prevent PsD and assess associated risks.

Associations between Life's Essential 8 and gallstones among US adults: A cross-sectional study from NHANES 2017-2018

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular illness and gallstones are closely related. Our goal was to determine whether gallstones and the updated LE8 score, which measures cardiovascular health among US adults, are related.

METHODS

3,570 adults participated in the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which provided the data for our study. Based on the criterion provided by the American Association for Cardiovascular Health (AHA), LE8 score (range 0-100) was calculated and classified as low (0-49), moderate (50-79), and high (80-100) cardiovascular health. Gallstones were derived from the questionnaire. Multivariate logistic modeling explored the independent relationship between LE8 score and gallstones.

RESULTS

There was a negative correlation between LE8 score and gallstones. Specifically, the odds of gallstones dropped by 15% for each 10-unit increase in LE8 score (OR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.77-0.94). Smooth curve fitting detected a saturation effect between LE8 score and gallstones, with a minimum threshold of 66.25 points associated with both. There was a noticeably stronger inverse relationship between gallstones and LE8 score in those under 60 years of age and not taking antihypertensive or lipid-lowering drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower LE8 scores may be a potential risk factor for the development of gallstones and could also be a target for risk assessment and intervention.

Predictive Value of Life's Crucial 9 for Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Study From the NHANES 2007 to 2018

BACKGROUND

The predictive value of Life's Crucial 9 (LC9), a recently proposed cardiovascular health risk score combining psychological health and Life's Essential 8 (LE8), remains unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this cohort study, we included 16 290 adults without cardiovascular disease from the 2007 to 2018 cycles of NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). The LC9 was the mean of the LE8 score and the depression score, which represented a dimension of psychological health. The study outcomes were cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazard models were fitted to estimate the association of LC9 and LE8 scores with outcomes. The differences in Harrell's concordance index, net reclassification improvement index, and integrated discrimination improvement were calculated to assess the predictive ability of the depression score in addition to the LE8 score. During a median follow-up of 7.08 years, 879 (5.40%) participants died, and 242 (1.49%) died from cardiovascular disease. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of per LE8 10-score increase for cardiovascular mortality was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.72-0.88; P<0.001) and the adjusted HR of per LC9 10-score increase was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.69-0.86; P<0.001). Adding the depression score to the LE8 score, the improvement in concordance index for cardiovascular mortality was 0.001 (95% CI, -0.001 to 0.003; P=0.30), the net reclassification improvement index was 10.6% (95% CI, -7.6% to 18.9%; P=0.073), and the IDI was 0.002 (95% CI, 0.000-0.007; P=0.033). The results for all-cause mortality showed similar patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the LE8, the improvement in the predictive value of LC9 was negligible. It may not be necessary to add a depression score to the current cardiovascular health score.

Association of Life's Essential 8 with depression among adults: A cross-sectional study of NHANES

The prevalence of depression continues to rise, and it has a high death and disability rate. Life's Essential 8 (LE8) is an updated measurement of cardiovascular health (CVH), and a higher score of LE8 represents healthier CVH. Our study aimed to investigate the association between the LE8 and depression among adults. This cross-sectional study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. CVH was measured by using LE8 according to American Heart Association definitions. Depression was assessed by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Weighted univariable and multivariable logistic analyses were performed to investigate the association of LE8 with depression. Subgroup analyses were also conducted in different groups based on age, gender, race, body mass index (BMI), smoking, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. A total of 22,149 participants were included in the database, with a mean LE8 score of 71.27. The prevalence of depression was 7.32%. The mean scores of LE8 in health behaviors and health factors were 73.28 and 69.26, respectively. After adjustment of potential confounders, a higher LE8 score was associated with lower odds of depression (odds ratio = 0.27, 95% confidence interval: 0.20-0.37). A similar association was observed in the subgroup analyses. Higher overall LE8 scores and higher scores for each component (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep duration, BMI, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure) were associated with lower odds of depression. LE8 score might be a useful tool for both cardiologists and psychiatrists in screening for and monitoring physical and mental health. Primary care physicians also could better tailor care and interventions to address both physical and mental health needs.

Association of life's essential 8 with chronic cardiovascular-kidney disorder: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The coexistence of cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease, termed chronic cardiovascular-kidney disorder (CCV-KD), is increasingly prevalent. However, limited studies have assessed the association between cardiovascular health (CVH), assessed by the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8), and CCV-KD.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study using data from UK Biobank. Participants without cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease at baseline and having complete data on metrics of LE8 were included (N = 125,986). LE8 included eight metrics, and the aggregate score was categorized as low (< 50 points), intermediate (50 to < 80 points), and high (≥ 80 points), with a higher score indicating better CVH health. Adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were conducted to explore the association of CVH with the risk of CCV-KD. The adjusted proportion of population attributable risk (PAR%) was used to calculate the population-level risk caused by low or intermediate CVH.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 12.5 years, 1,054 participants (0.8%) had incident CCV-KD. Participants with intermediate and high CVH had 54% (HR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.40-0.54, P < 0.001) and 75% (HR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.18-0.34, P < 0.001) lower risks of incident CCV-KD compared with those in low CVH group. There was an approximately dose-response linear relationship between the overall LE8 score and incident CCV-KD. The risk of incident CCV-KD decreased by 30% (HR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.67-0.74, P < 0.001) for a 10-point increment of LE8 score. The adjusted PAR% of lower overall CVH was 47.4% (95% CI: 31.6%-59.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Better CVH, assessed by using LE8 score, was strongly associated with decreased risk of incident CCV-KD. These findings imply optimizing CVH may be a preventive strategy to reduce the burden of CCV-KD.

Cardiovascular health and cancer mortality: evidence from US NHANES and UK Biobank cohort studies

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association recently introduced a novel cardiovascular health (CVH) metric, Life's Essential 8 (LE8), for health promotion. However, the relationship between LE8 and cancer mortality risk remains uncertain.

METHODS

We investigated 17,076 participants from US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (US NHANES) and 272,727 participants from UK Biobank, all free of cancer at baseline. The CVH score, based on LE8 metrics, incorporates four health behaviors (diet, physical activity, smoking, and sleep) and four health factors (body mass index, lipid, blood glucose, and blood pressure). Self-reported questionnaires assessed health behaviors. Primary outcomes were mortality rates for total cancer and its subtypes. The association between CVH score (continuous and categorical variable) and outcomes was examined using Cox model with adjustments. Cancer subtypes-related polygenic risk score (PRS) was constructed to evaluate its interactions with CVH on cancer death risk.

RESULTS

Over 141,526 person-years in US NHANES, 424 cancer-related deaths occurred, and in UK Biobank, 8,872 cancer deaths were documented during 3,690,893 person-years. High CVH was associated with reduced overall cancer mortality compared to low CVH (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.37-0.91 in US NHANES; 0.51, 0.46-0.57 in UK Biobank). Each one-standard deviation increase in CVH score was linked to a 19% decrease in cancer mortality (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.73-0.91) in US NHANES and a 19% decrease (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.79-0.83) in UK Biobank. Adhering to ideal CVH was linearly associated with decreased risks of death from lung, bladder, liver, kidney, esophageal, breast, colorectal, pancreatic, and gastric cancers in UK Biobank. Furthermore, integrating genetic data revealed individuals with low PRS and high CVH exhibited the lowest mortality from eight cancers (HRs ranged from 0.36 to 0.57) compared to those with high PRS and low CVH. No significant modification of the association between CVH and mortality risk for eight cancers by genetic predisposition was observed. Subgroup analyses showed a more pronounced protective association for overall cancer mortality among younger participants and those with lower socio-economic status.

CONCLUSIONS

Maintaining optimal CVH is associated with a substantial reduction in the risk of overall cancer mortality. Adherence to ideal CVH correlates linearly with decreased mortality risk across multiple cancer subtypes. Individuals with both ideal CVH and high genetic predisposition demonstrated significant health benefits. These findings support adopting ideal CVH as an intervention strategy to mitigate cancer mortality risk and promote healthy aging.

Associations between frailty, genetic predisposition, and chronic kidney disease risk in middle-aged and older adults: A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Cross-sectional evidence has shown that frailty is highly prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, there is limited evidence of the longitudinal associations between frailty, genetic predisposition to CKD, and the risk of CKD in the general population. Therefore, this study aimed to examine such associations among participants in the UK Biobank.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a prospective cohort study included 370,965 middle-aged and older adults from the UK Biobank. Physical frailty was assessed using a modified version of the Fried phenotype classification. A weighted genetic risk score was built using 263 variants associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incident CKD was identified from hospital inpatient records.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 12.3 years, we documented a total of 11,121 incident CKD cases. Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression models indicated that individuals with frailty (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.94, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.81-2.08) and pre-frailty (HR: 1.27, 95 % CI: 1.22-1.33) had an increased risk of developing CKD, compared with non-frail individuals. No significant interaction between frailty and genetic risk score was observed (P for interaction = 0.41). The highest risk was observed among the individuals with high genetic risk and frailty (HR: 2.31, 95 % CI: 2.00-2.68).

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that frailty and pre-frailty were associated with increased risk of incident CKD in middle-age and older adults, regardless of genetic risk of CKD. Our study underscores the importance of frailty screening and intervention as a potential strategy to prevent CKD. Future clinical trials are needed to validate our findings.

Association between life's essential 8 and male biochemical androgen deficiency: evidence from NHANES 2013-2016

Purpose

To evaluate the association of Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and its subscales with male biochemical androgen deficiency (MBAD) and total testosterone based on the data from the national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES) database.

Methods

Data of males aged 20 years or older from NHANES of 2013-2016 were extracted. LE8 score was calculated based on American Heart Association definitions. Total testosterone (TT) values were measured in NHANES using precise isotope dilution liquid chromatography. MBAD was defined as serum TT of <300 ng/dL. Univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted. Propensity score matching (PSM) and weighted regression after matching were added as sensitivity analyses. The generalized additive model, smooth curve fitting, and the recursive algorithm were used to determine the potential inflection points. Piecewise regression models with log-likelihood ratio test were used to quantify nonlinear effects.

Results

A total of 3094 participants who were males and aged 20 years or above were included. Out of them, 805 males were diagnosed with MBAD. After adjusting the confounders in the multivariable model, LE8 was independently associated with MBAD (OR 0.96, P < 0.001) and TT (β 2.7, P < 0.001). The association remained robust even after PSM. The non-linear relationship of LE8 behaviors score with MBAD and TT was revealed.

Conclusion

LE8 was an independent protective factor of MBAD and a feasible approach to promote male endocrine sexual function.

Association between kidney stones and life's essential 8: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Kidney stones exhibit a robust correlation with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The objective of this research is to investigate the correlation between kidney stones and Life's Essential 8 (LE8), a newly updated assessment of cardiovascular health (CVH), among adults in the United States.

METHODS

In this study, which analyzed data from the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we employed LE8 scores (ranging from 0 to 100) as the independent variable, classifying them into low, moderate, and high CVH categories. The research examined the relationship between LE8 scores and kidney stones by using multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models, with kidney stones as the dependent variable.

RESULTS

Out of the 14,117 participants in this research, the weighted mean LE8 score was 69.70 ± 0.27. After accounting for confounding factors, there was an inverse association between higher LE8 scores and the likelihood of developing kidney stones (OR of 0.81 per 10-point increase, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.77-0.85), demonstrating a non-linear dose-response pattern. Similar patterns were observed for health behaviors, health factor scores, and kidney stones. Stratified analyses demonstrated a stable negative correlation between LE8 scores and kidney stones across different subgroups.

CONCLUSION

LE8 and its subscale scores exhibited a robust and inverse correlation with the occurrence of kidney stones. Encouraging adherence to optimal CVH levels has the potential to serve as an effective strategy in preventing and minimizing the occurrence of kidney stones.

AHA Life's Essential 8 and new-onset CKD: a prospective cohort study from the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

The AHA has recently introduced a novel metric, Life's Essential 8, to assess cardiovascular health (CVH). Nevertheless, the association between varying levels of LE8 and the propensity for CKD is still unclear from a large prospective cohort. Our objective is to meticulously examine the relationship between LE8 and its associated susceptibilities to CKD.

METHODS

A total of 251,825 participants free of CKD from the UK Biobank were included. Cardiovascular health was scored using LE8 and categorized as low, moderate, and high. Cox proportional hazard models were employed to evaluate the associations of LE8 scores with new-onset CKD. The genetic risk score for CKD was calculated by a weighted method.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 12.8 years, we meticulously documented 10,124 incident cases of CKD. Remarkably, an increased LE8 score correlated with a significant reduction of risk in new-onset CKD (high LE8 score vs. low LE8 score: HR = 0.300, 95% CI 0.270-0.330, p < 0.001; median LE8 score vs. low LE8 score: HR = 0.531, 95% CI 0.487-0.580, p < 0.001). This strong LE8-CKD association remained robust in extensive subgroup assessments and sensitivity analysis. Additionally, these noteworthy associations between LE8 scores and CKD remained unaffected by genetic predispositions to CKD.

CONCLUSIONS

An elevated degree of CVH, as delineated by the discerning metric LE8, exhibited a pronounced and statistically significant correlation with a marked reduction in the likelihood of CKD occurrence.

Longitudinal cardiovascular health measured by life's essential 8 metrics with incident diabetes: A 13-year prospective cohort study

AIMS

To investigate the associations of baseline and longitudinal cardiovascular health (CVH) measured by 'Life's Essential 8' (LE8) metrics with the risk of diabetes in Chinese people with normoglycaemia or prediabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total 86,149 participants without diabetes were enroled from the Kailuan study and were stratified by baseline glycaemic status (normoglycaemia or prediabetes). Cardiovascular health score ranged from 0 to 100 points was categorised into low (0-49), middle (50-79), and high (80-100) CVH status. Cox regressions were used to assess the associations of baseline and time-updated CVH status with incident diabetes in the overall cohort and across baseline glycaemic statuses.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 12.94 (interquartile rage: 12.48-13.16) years, we identified 13,097 (15.20%) cases of incident diabetes. Baseline and time-updated high CVH status was associated with a lower risk of diabetes, the corresponding hazard ratio (HR) versus low CVH status was 0.27 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.23-0.31) and 0.26 (95% CI, 0.23-0.30) in the overall cohort, respectively. Additionally, the effect of high CVH on diabetes was more prominent in participants with normoglycaemia than those with prediabetes (P < 0.0001), with an HR of 0.26 (95% CI, 0.22-0.31) versus 0.50 (95% CI, 0.41-0.62) for baseline CVH, and 0.25 (95% CI, 0.21-0.30) versus 0.39 (95% CI, 0.32-0.48) for time-updated CVH.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated baseline and longitudinal CVH score assessed by LE8 metrics is associated with a lower risk of subsequent diabetes, especially in normoglycaemic adults.

Life's Essential 8, genetic predisposition, and risk of incident adult-onset asthma: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Adult-onset asthma (AOA) and cardiovascular diseases shared common risk factors and similar pathophysiologic resemblances. The American Heart Association (AHA) unveiled the life's essential 8 (LE8) to promote cardiovascular health (CVH). This study aimed to assess the overall impact of LE8 implementation on AOA prevention.

METHODS

According to the guideline of AHA's Construct of CVH in 2022, LE8 score was calculated from 8 health status concerning diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep health, body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to estimate effect sizes of associations between CVH, asthma genetic risk, and risk of incident AOA in participants selected from the UK Biobank study.

RESULTS

A total of 6180 incident AOA cases occurred in 249,713 participants during an average of 11.60 y' follow-up. A higher LE8 score was associated with a lower risk of incident AOA with a significant linear trend (P < 0.0001). Every standard deviation increment of LE8 was associated with a 17% (HR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.81, 0.85) lower risk of incident AOA. Compared with participants with low-CVH score, participants with moderate (HR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.78) and high CVH scores (HR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.58) were associated with a lower risk of incident AOA (P-trend < 0.0001). No significant multiplicative or additive interaction was found between LE8 score and genetic risks. Stratified analysis showed a consistent association between CVH and risk of incident AOA across different asthma polygenic risk score (PRS) levels. Compared with participants with high PRS and low CVH, participants with low PRS and high CVH experienced the lowest risk (HR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.34) of incident AOA.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that maintaining optimal CVH should be recommended as a preventive strategy for AOA, regardless of their asthma genetic risks.