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Middle-aged male smokers with high blood pressure and raised cholesterol levels
face dying about 10 years before healthier counterparts, a study warns.
The UK study looked at more than 19,000 civil servants aged 40-69 and traced
what happened to them 38 years later.
It concluded that men with these three risk factors could expect a 10-year
shorter life from 50 years of age.
The British Heart Foundation said it was an important reminder for everyone
over 40 to have a heart health check.
The study, published in the British Medical Journal, was set up in 1967-70 at
the peak of the vascular disease epidemic in the UK.
Participants had their height, weight, blood pressure, lung function,
cholesterol and blood glucose levels measured and completed a questionnaire
about their previous medical history, smoking habits, employment grade and
marital status.
Current smokers made up 42% of the men, 39% had high blood pressure and 51% had
high cholesterol.
They were followed up nearly 40 years later in 2005 by which time 13,501 had
died.
Risk factors
RISK FACTORS FACTS
The researchers from the University of Oxford focused on smoking, high blood
pressure and cholesterol because they are the main cardiovascular risk factors.
But when they broadened it out to look at all risk factors including obesity,
diabetes and employment grade, they found a 15-year life expectancy difference
between the 5% with the highest number of risk factors and the 5% who had the
lowest number of risk factors.
The proportion of deaths attributed to vascular disease in old age has declined
from about 60% in 1950 to less than 40% in 2005 for both men and women.
Dr Robert Clarke, of the Clinical Trial Service Unit at the University led the
study.
He said: "'We've shown that men at age 50 who smoke, have high blood pressure
and high cholesterol levels can expect to survive to 74 years of age, while
those who have none of these risk factors can expect to live until 83.
"It is precisely this kind of very prolonged follow-up study that is necessary
to get these results - that modest differences in heart risk factors can
accurately predict significant differences in life expectancy.
"The results give people another way of looking at heart disease risk factors
that can be understood more readily.
"If you stop smoking or take measures to deal with high blood pressure or body
weight, it will translate into increased life expectancy. "
Healthy life
Professor Peter Weissberg, Medical Director at the BHF, said: "This important
study puts a figure on the life-limiting effects of smoking, high blood
pressure and high cholesterol.
"It provides a stark illustration of how these risk factors in middle-age can
reduce life expectancy.
"The good news is that all of us can make changes to help us live a healthy
life for longer, even after 50.
"We know that stopping smoking and reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, by
lifestyle changes and/or tablets, can prevent the onset of heart disease - and
these findings suggest it could make a decade of difference to our lives.
"Although the study only involved men, there is no reason why the same should
not apply to women.
"So, I urge all men and women over 40 to have a health check - that all GPs can
provide - which will include finding out their blood pressure and cholesterol
levels, and starting to address any areas of concern."
Jane Landon, deputy chief executive of the National Heart Forum, said: "Public
health strategies to discourage smoking and promote healthy eating and active
lifestyles from childhood are vital to prevent the accumulation in middle age
of these avoidable risk factors."
Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health,
said: "These findings also help to explain why people who are less well off are
more likely to die younger.
"Poorer people tend to smoke more, eat less healthy diets and suffer more
psychosocial stress - all adding to their risk of heart disease. These are the
people who need help most."