Long-term lifestyle change and risk of mortality and type 2 diabetes in patients with cardiovascular disease

Nadia E Bonekamp, Frank L J Visseren*, Maarten J Cramer, Jannick A N Dorresteijn, Manon G van der Meer, Y M Ruigrok, Thomas T van Sloten, Martin Teraa, Johanna M Geleijnse, Charlotte Koopal

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

AIMS: To quantify the relationship between self-reported, long-term lifestyle changes (smoking, waist circumference, physical activity, and alcohol consumption) and clinical outcomes in patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD).

METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were used from 2011 participants (78% male, age 57 ± 9 years) from the Utrecht Cardiovascular Cohort-Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease cohort who returned for a re-assessment visit (SMART2) after ∼10 years. Self-reported lifestyle change was classified as persistently healthy, improved, worsened, or persistently unhealthy. Cox proportional hazard models were used to quantify the relationship between lifestyle changes and the risk of (cardiovascular) mortality and incident Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Fifty-seven per cent of participants was persistently healthy, 17% improved their lifestyle, 8% worsened, and 17% was persistently unhealthy. During a median follow-up time of 6.1 (inter-quartile range 3.6-9.6) years after the SMART2 visit, 285 deaths occurred, and 99 new T2D diagnoses were made. Compared with a persistently unhealthy lifestyle, individuals who maintained a healthy lifestyle had a lower risk of all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 0.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.36-0.63], cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.38-0.87), and incident T2D (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.28-0.73). Similarly, those who improved their lifestyle had a lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.37-0.74), cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.26-0.81), and incident T2D (HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.27-0.92).

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that maintaining or adopting a healthy lifestyle can significantly lower mortality and incident T2D risk in CVD patients. This study emphasizes the importance of ongoing lifestyle optimization in CVD patients, highlighting the potential for positive change regardless of previous lifestyle habits.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)205-213
Number of pages9
JournalEuropean journal of preventive cardiology
Volume31
Issue number2
Early online date29 Sept 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2024

Keywords

  • Diabetes
  • Established cardiovascular disease
  • Healthy lifestyle
  • Lifestyle changes
  • Mortality

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