News Release

Reaching the AHA 2020 goals: Strategies for success -- news tips

American Heart Association meeting report

Peer-Reviewed Publication

American Heart Association

In January 2010, the American Heart Association announced its new impact goal: By 2020, to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent. The novel focus of the goal will be preventing heart disease and stroke, most notably by helping people identify and adopt healthier lifestyle choices. To do that, the association established a new definition of cardiovascular health, with the entire spectrum of health defined in one of three categories: ideal, intermediate and poor. This definition of ideal health, for adults and children, is based on seven health factors key to preventing cardiovascular disease and stroke – Life's Simple 7™: For adults, those are:

  • Never smoked or quit more than one year ago
  • Body mass index 18.5-24.9 kg/m2
  • Physical activity of at least 150 minutes (moderate intensity) or 75 minutes (vigorous intensity) each week
  • Four to five key components of a healthy diet consistent with current American Heart Association recommendations
  • Total cholesterol of less than 200 mg/dL
  • Blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg
  • Fasting blood glucose less than 100 mg/dL

For Scientific Sessions 2010, the American Heart Association introduced a new category of research focusing on outcomes and strategies that help drive the success of the 2020 Impact Goal. The following are highlights from this special presentation, Reaching the AHA 2020 Goals: Strategies for Success.


Abstract 10827 – 'Ideal' levels of four health factors associated with lowest prevalence of coronary artery calcium, carotid artery thickness

Patients with "ideal" health factors — healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels and non-smokers — also had lower levels of coronary artery calcium and carotid artery thickness, both considered risk factors for cardiovascular disease, according to new findings from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Using data from MESA, researchers accounted for gender, age and race/ethnicity and placed participants into one of three groups: ideal, intermediate or poor, based on the American Heart Association's new definition of cardiovascular health.

Only 12 percent of men and 13 percent of women had all four of the health factors in the ideal range. The prevalence of coronary artery calcium and carotid artery thickness were significantly lower among the ideal group compared with groups who scored at the levels of intermediate or poor for the four health factors. Carotid artery thickness increased steadily with worsening health factor levels for both men and women.

MESA is a population-based study of 45- to-84-year-olds free of cardiovascular disease who had no symptoms at enrollment. Researchers measured the patients' coronary artery calcium score and carotid intima media thickness at the start of the study and after an average of three years.

Tamar S. Polonsky, M.D., Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill.; (312) 608-0250; t-polonsky@northwestern.edu.

Note: Actual presentation time is 9 a.m., CT, Monday, Nov. 15, 2010.


Abstract 13062 – Few middle-aged, elderly Americans have enough Life's Simple 7™ health factors

Fewer than a quarter of black and white middle-aged and elderly Americans have four or more of the Life's Simple 7™ health factors at ideal levels, according to a new analysis of the Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Cohort study.

In REGARDS, 17,820 participants (ages 45 to 84) were enrolled across the nation between 2003 and 2007. Researchers measured extensive risk factor data at baseline and followed it for 4.4 years, during which 988 people died from all causes of death.

Researchers divided the participants into one of the three categories for cardiovascular health as defined by the American Heart Association – poor, intermediate and ideal – based on seven critical factors that individually and collectively influence your risk for cardiovascular disease. Study results showed:

  • Only two people (0.01 percent) in the study group had all seven health factors at ideal levels.
  • Participants with five to seven health factors at ideal levels were more likely to be younger than 65, female and white.
  • Death rates were 55 percent lower for participants with five to seven health factors at ideal compared with those who had no health factors at ideal levels.
  • Among the seven factors, fasting blood sugar levels had the highest prevalence of being ideal (66.9 percent) and diet score had the lowest prevalence (0.43 percent.)
  • For every additional health factor at the ideal level, a person had a 14 percent lower chance of dying over four years.

The findings could help shape interventions to improve heart health and help meet the American Heart Association 2020 Impact Goal, researchers said.

Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., University of Vermont, Colchester, Vt.; (802) 656-8968; mary.cushman@uvm.edu.

Note: Actual presentation time is 9:15 a.m., CT, Monday, Nov. 15, 2010.


Abstract 17245 – Genetic factors play small role in achieving ideal cardiovascular health

Genetic factors appear to have only a modest role in achieving ideal cardiovascular health, compared to health behaviors and lifestyle factors, according to new findings.

Using data from the original, offspring and third generation Framingham Heart Study, researchers analyzed the role clinical and behavioral factors had on cardiovascular health during middle age to determine what impact heredity might have.

They applied two definitions of ideal cardiovascular health to 7,540 participants age 40 and 8,922 participants age 50 (53 percent women). One definition was based on clinical measurements (optimal cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes status). The second combined the clinical factors with healthy behavior factors of no smoking and having a healthy body mass index (BMI).

The study results showed that:

  • Under the clinical definition, the prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health declined significantly with age, from 26 percent at age 40 to 12.2 percent at age 50.
  • For the clinical/behavioral definition, ideal cardiovascular health status declined from 11.6 percent at age 40 to 5.2 percent at age 50.
  • The role of genetics in maintaining ideal cardiovascular health into middle age was modest and decreased from 18 percent at age 40 to 13 percent at age 50. Findings were similar for both definitions of ideal cardiovascular health.

The researchers said the association between genetic variation and ideal cardiovascular health needs additional research. However, their findings suggest that prevention strategies to improve behavior and lifestyle habits may have a major impact in reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease.

Norrina Allen, Ph.D., Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill.; (312) 503-0197; norrina-allen@northwestern.edu.

Note: Actual presentation time is 9:30 a.m., CT, Monday, Nov. 15, 2010.


Abstract 12947 – Healthy lifestyles may be key in preventing sudden cardiac death in women

Encouraging women to adopt healthier lifestyles could be a key prevention strategy in reducing sudden cardiac death, according to a new analysis from the Nurses' Health Study.

Researchers reviewed data from 78,379 women who were free of major chronic diseases in 1984. They found 57 percent of sudden cardiac deaths may have been prevented had all women not smoked, maintained a healthy weight, consumed a healthy diet and engaged in physical activity.

Over 25 years, 255 cases of sudden cardiac death were documented. Findings include:

  • Compared to women with one or no healthy lifestyle factors, those with two factors had a 33 percent lower risk of sudden cardiac death; those with three had a 50 percent lower risk; and those with four factors had a 77 percent lower risk.
  • When moderate alcohol intake (defined as up to one drink a day) was included, only one sudden cardiac death occurred among the 2 percent of women with all five healthy lifestyle factors.

Researchers said improving women's lifestyle habits is one strategy that could reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death and help the American Heart Association meet its 2020 Impact Goal.

Stephanie Chiuve, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass.; (617) 432-6744; schiuve@hsph.harvard.edu.

Note: Actual presentation time is 10 a.m., CT, Monday, Nov. 15, 2010.

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Author disclosures are available on the abstracts.

Statements and conclusions of study authors that are presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position. The association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding.

NR10-1141 (SS10/2020 Goal Tips)

Additional Resources:

To help people improve their heart health, the American Heart Association has developed a new online resource — My Life Check™. For more information, visit www.heart.org/MyLifeCheck.

Multimedia resources (animation, audio, video and images) are available in our newsroom at Scientific Sessions 2010 - Multimedia. This will include audio interview clips with AHA experts offering perspective on news releases. Video clips with researchers will be added to this link after each embargo lifts.

Stay up to date on the latest news from American Heart Association scientific meetings, including Scientific Sessions 2010, by following us at www.twitter.com/heartnews. We will be tweeting from the conference using hashtag #AHA10News.


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