Association of cardiovascular health with incident heart failure in community population without cardiovascular disease: results of the China PEACE million persons project

Abstract Aim To evaluate the association of cardiovascular health (CVH) with incident heart failure (HF). Methods The China PEACE million persons project is a nationwide, government-funded and population-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) screening study. This was a sub-cohort study of the project that included community-dwelling adults free of CVD. Components of CVH, including diet, physical activity, smoking status, sleep status, body mass index (BMI), non-HDL, blood glucose and blood pressure, were collected using self-report questionnaires. Each component and CVH were categorized as poor, intermediate and ideal status based on the AHA Life’s Essential 8 criteria. HF cases were identified by linking hospital records. Results Among the cohort (n=38571, median age 54 years and women 60.5%), proportion of individuals with poor, intermediate and ideal CVH was 30.7%, 56.9% and 12.4% respectively. After a median follow-up of 3.6 years, the incidence of HF in individuals with poor, intermediate and ideal CVH was 2.5%, 1.1% and 0.5% (P<0.001). Compared to poor CVH, intermediate (adjusted HR: 0.52 [95% CI: 0.43-0.61]) and ideal CVH (adjusted HR: 0.38 [95% CI: 0.26-0.57]) were associated with a lower risk of incident HF. A gradient of association between CVH and risk of incident HF was observed (P-trend < 0.001). Ideal physical activity, ideal smoking status, and intermediate and ideal status of BMI, blood glucose and blood pressure were independently associated with a lower risk of incident HF. Conclusion Poor CVH was independently associated with an increased risk of incident HF and promotion of CVH may have important implications for HF prevention.Graphical abstract