Despite having universal healthcare, many adults in France struggle with heart health. A recent study highlights that just 13% of French adults between 18 and 69 have optimal cardiovascular health. Researchers used the American Heart Association’s latest score, known as ‘Life’s Essential 8’ (LE8), to evaluate heart health. This score measures eight factors including diet, exercise, nicotine use, and sleep quality.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health issue globally. Even with advancements in medicine, it was responsible for a third of deaths worldwide in 2019. The European Union spends about €282 billion annually on managing heart disease, but only a small portion of that focuses on prevention.
This situation calls for better preventive measures. The LE8 score helps track cardiovascular health. Higher scores correlate with lower heart disease rates and better overall health. Yet, many people do not meet the ideal benchmarks, and there’s little data on what influences LE8 scores outside the U.S.
In the latest study, French scientists explored cardiovascular health using data from a large cohort that included participants from different ages and backgrounds across metropolitan France. The assessment revealed that the average LE8 score was 66.11. Women scored higher than men, with only 13.21% of participants achieving scores of 80 or more. Alarmingly, diet was the weakest area, scoring just 41.50, while blood glucose levels were the strongest.
Factors like younger age, higher education, and being self-employed were linked to better scores. Women were nearly three times more likely to achieve high scores than men, indicating potential societal and biological influences on heart health.
The data suggests that improving LE8 scores could dramatically reduce CVD events. If all participants reached high scores, researchers estimate 81% of cardiovascular incidents could be avoided. Even small improvements could still prevent 68% of these cases.
However, the study had limitations, such as incomplete dietary data and reliance on self-reported information, which could bias results. Despite these drawbacks, it sheds light on the state of cardiovascular health among French adults.
In short, the study shows that most adults in metropolitan France do not have optimal heart health, even with easy access to healthcare. Yet, the findings indicate that making simple lifestyle changes can lead to significant benefits. There’s a clear need for personalized prevention strategies and public health initiatives targeting specific population groups and life stages.
For more information, you can read the original study in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
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Source linkHeart, Alcohol, Blood, Blood Pressure, Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Diet, Disability, Education, Global Health, Glucose, HbA1c, Healthcare, Medicine, Mortality, Nicotine, Physical Activity, Public Health, Research, Sleep, Smoking
