‘The five classic risk factors of high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, being underweight or overweight or obese, and high cholesterol levels are responsible for around half of all cardiovascular diseases worldwide. We wanted to know how the absence or control of these factors affects lifespan,’ says Prof Dr Christina Magnussen, first author and deputy director of the UKE's Department of Cardiology.
The study shows that women who do not have any of these risk factors at the age of 50 develop cardiovascular disease on average 13.3 years later and die 14.5 years later than women with all five risk factors. Men without these risk factors live 10.6 years longer without cardiovascular disease and die on average 11.8 years later than men with the risk factors. The risk factors themselves have different significance; for example, women who do not smoke at the age of 50 live 5.5 years longer without cardiovascular disease, compared to 4.8 years for men.
Another important result of the study: a change in behaviour is also worthwhile in later life. ‘Of all five risk factors, controlling blood pressure is associated with the most additional healthy life years,’ says Prof. Dr Stefan Blankenberg, last author of the study and Medical Director of the University Heart and Vascular Centre at the UKE. People who get their high blood pressure under control or stop smoking between the ages of 55 and 60 live longer and without cardiovascular disease than people who do not change their lifestyle.
For their study, the scientists analysed data from more than two million people from 39 countries. This makes the study one of the most comprehensive investigations to date into the influence of risk factors on life expectancy.
This scientific publication was selected as Paper of the Month April 2025 by the DZHK Board of Directors.
Original publication:
C Magnussen et al. Global effect of cardiovascular risk factors on lifetime estimates. New England Journal of Medicine. 2025. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2415879 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2415879
