Lifestyle choices, particularly obesity, can lead to premature heart aging, ranging from 5 to 45 years.
Want to keep your ticker in top shape? A novel study published in the European Heart Journal Open has offered a potential solution: calculating your heart's functional age using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Here's what this groundbreaking research reveals:
Unhealthy Habits? Your Heart Can Age Prematurely
Researchers sought to explore how heart health fares in both healthy and unhealthy aging. High blood pressure, a modifiable risk factor, can expedite heart ageing, making a potential tool for monitoring cardiac health - cardiac MRI.
The study compared a healthy reference group of 191 participants to a testing group of 366 with at least one comorbidity, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity. They additionally compared their findings to a smaller preliminary external validation cohort of 25 individuals.
Obesity and AFib: Speeding Up Heart Aging
Contrasting healthy participants whose heart ages roughly matched their chronological age, the study showed that unhealthy participants had significantly older functional heart ages. Strikingly, participants with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher experienced functional heart ages a staggering 45 years older than their chronological age. Similarly, individuals with atrial fibrillation (AFib) also saw an increase in functional heart age.
Evidently, obesity, AFib, and leading an unhealthy lifestyle can advance heart aging—all of which this study helps identify early to facilitate interventions.
Now, you may be wondering, how exactly does this study apply to me?
A Simple Math Formula to Calculate Your Heart Age
Study author Pankaj Garg, MD, PhD of the University of East Anglia explains, "We have discovered an equation—a simple math formula—that uses data from heart MRI scans to determine how old your heart looks. For healthy people, their heart age matches their actual age. But, if someone has conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, a wonky heartbeat, or extra weight, their heart can look way older—about 4.6 years older on average. For people with a lot of extra weight, their hearts look up to 45 years older!"
Limitations and Future Steps
While this study is an exciting step towards effective heart health monitoring, it also presents some limitations. Researchers had to make estimations, so the heart functional age remains approximate. Additionally, the short duration of the study may cause survivor bias, potentially underestimating the impact of comorbidities on heart aging in older individuals. Finally, the study didn't consider factors like exercise and diet.
Early Detection and a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle
Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board-certified interventional cardiologist, notes the potential for determining functional heart age as a tool for prevention. "An assessment of functional heart age can potentially motivate patients to improve their lifestyles, identify patients at risk for future clinical events, and evaluate the response to clinical therapeutics and interventions."
Heart MRI scans, which are noninvasive and require only a few minutes, could be the key to catching heart trouble early and preventing more severe issues like heart failure.
Furthermore, using heart MRI scans could also foster improved communication between patients and healthcare providers by offering a tangible measure to promote preventive strategies.
So, keep an eye on that heart of yours and remember—a younger heart may just be a few lifestyle changes away!
- Senior citizens can take note of this new approach to heart health which involves calculating the heart's functional age through cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- High blood pressure, a modifiable risk factor, can cause premature heart aging, making cardiac MRI a potential tool for monitoring cardiac health.
- In this study, a healthy reference group of 191 participants was compared with a testing group of 366 who had at least one comorbidity, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity.
- A preliminary external validation cohort of 25 individuals was also included in the study.
- Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher experienced functional heart ages that were staggeringly 45 years older than their chronological age.
- Similarly, those with atrial fibrillation (AFib) also saw an increase in functional heart age.
- Participants with comorbidities had significantly older functional heart ages, highlighting the impact of unhealthy habits on heart aging.
- For healthy people, their heart age matched their actual age.
- The study has discovered a simple math formula using heart MRI scans to determine how old your heart looks.
- People with conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, a wonky heartbeat, or extra weight, can have hearts that appear to be up to 45 years older.
- Researchers had to make estimations, so the heart functional age remains approximate.
- The short duration of the study may cause survivor bias, potentially underestimating the impact of comorbidities on heart aging in older individuals.
- Factors like exercise and diet weren't considered in the study.
- The study's author, Pankaj Garg, MD, PhD, suggests that this assessment of functional heart age can motivate patients to improve their lifestyles and identify patients at risk for future clinical events.
- Heart MRI scans, which are noninvasive and require only a few minutes, could be the key to catching heart trouble early and preventing more severe issues like heart failure.
- Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board-certified interventional cardiologist, emphasizes the potential for this tool for prevention.
- This tool could identify patients at risk for future clinical events and evaluate the response to clinical therapeutics and interventions.
- Catching heart trouble early could foster improved communication between patients and healthcare providers by offering a tangible measure to promote preventive strategies.
- Obesity, AFib, and unhealthy habits can advance heart aging, making them identifiable factors for early detection and intervention.
- A younger heart may just be a few lifestyle changes away, encouraging seniors to prioritize their cardiovascular health.
- The manufacturing industry must consider the implications of this study in workplace wellness programs to ensure the health and wellness of its employees.
- Financial institutions, like banks and insurance firms, must consider chronic diseases and their management when offering policies to seniors.
- The healthcare sector needs to develop more therapies and treatments for chronic diseases, including chronic kidney disease, cancer, and heart disease.
- Science and medicine need to collaborate to understand the connections between climate change and heart health.
- Entrepreneurs in the fitness and exercise industry could capitalize on this study to provide effective weight management programs for seniors.
- The retail sector could offer lifestyle products, like nutritious food and skincare, that can support heart-healthy living for seniors.
- Governments and civil societies must advocate for diversity and inclusion, ensuring equal access to quality healthcare for seniors with various medical conditions.
- Leadership in businesses and organizations should promote a culture of health and safety, including heart-healthy initiatives for seniors.
- Smart home devices, wearables, and cybersecurity solutions can support seniors in monitoring their heart health and managing their other medical conditions.
- The energy sector must prioritize clean and sustainable solutions to combat climate change and contribute to overall heart health.
- The environmental science community should research the connections between climate change and heart disease to inform policy and public health initiatives.
- Small businesses should prioritize the mental health of their employees, creating supportive work environments that promote heart-healthy lifestyle choices.
- The automotive industry can invest in smarter and more eco-friendly transportation solutions that prioritize heart health by reducing air pollution.
- Venture capitalists should consider investing in heart-health startups and technological advancements that can positively impact the lives of seniors, promoting a healthier and more sustainable future for all.
