Undoubtedly, being part of the stressful urban lifestyle has given rise to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The situation has become so serious that now CVD has become one of the leading causes of death worldwide. While we are well aware that many lifestyle factors contribute to the risk of developing CVD, we have rarely been told that the risk factors for CVD change as we age. A recent study by The Lancet Regional Health Western Pacific showed how the major modifiable risk factors for heart disease increase with age. This is a large prospective cohort study that looked at data from approximately 200,000 Chinese.
To explore the major modifiable risk factors that can lead to CVD, the study included adults 40 years of age and older. Data for the findings were collected between 2011 and 2016 with the help of local community clinics and lifestyle questionnaires. Researchers divided participants into different age groups that included 40 to 55, 55 to 65, 65 to 75 and 75+. The researchers did not consider age to be a risk factor, but the results suggest that it influences other risk factors.
In total, twelve risk factors were tracked by the researchers, including socioeconomic and psychosocial factors such as inadequate education and depression; metabolic factors such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and chronic kidney disease; and lifestyle factors such as smoking, high alcohol intake, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and improper sleep duration.
After taking everything into account, the study revealed three main risk factors for cardiovascular disease associated with different age groups:
- In the age group of 40-55 years, the factors are high blood pressure, unhealthy diet and diabetes.
- Next, in the 55-65 age group, factors include high blood pressure, unhealthy diet and inadequate education.
- For people aged 65 to 75, the factors that were found were high blood pressure, inadequate education, and an unhealthy diet.
- The research revealed that people aged 75 and above had factors such as improper sleep duration, low education, and high blood pressure as their top three risk factors.
- The study’s findings are of utmost importance because it helps people focus on their potential risk factors before being diagnosed with CVD.
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