A groundbreaking study has revealed that even individuals in their 30s face a significantly higher long-term risk of heart attacks and strokes if they simultaneously exhibit prehypertension, prediabetes, and borderline dyslipidemia. This finding serves as a wake-up call for young adults, urging them not to overlook warning signs related to blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.
Researchers from Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, including Professors Cheon Dae-young and Lee Min-woo from the Departments of Cardiology and Neurology, respectively, along with Professors Lee Jin-hwa and Lee Yeon-jeong from the Department of Cardiology, published their findings in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology on Tuesday.
Professor Cheon also presented the study results at the 18th Asia-Pacific Atherosclerosis and Vascular Disease Conference and the 31st Philippine Lipid and Atherosclerosis Society (PLAS)-Philippine Society of Hypertension (PSH) Joint Conference in Manila, Philippines, from April 8 to 10.
The research team analyzed data from 1.74 million Koreans aged 30 to 39 who participated in the 2009 National Health Screening, focusing on those without a history of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, heart attacks, or strokes.
They identified 44,553 individuals meeting the criteria for prehypertension, prediabetes, and borderline dyslipidemia based on blood pressure, blood sugar, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. These subjects were compared with a control group of 452,763 individuals, matched for age and gender.
The study defined prehypertension as a systolic blood pressure of 120-139 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure of 70-89 mmHg, prediabetes as a fasting blood sugar level of 100-125 mg/dL, and borderline dyslipidemia as an LDL cholesterol level of 130-159 mg/dL.
Over an average follow-up period of 14.2 years, the researchers tracked occurrences of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths among the participants.
The results were striking: the composite pre-stage group – those with all three preconditions – showed nearly double the incidence rate of major cardiovascular diseases compared to the normal group. Even after adjusting for factors such as age, gender, obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption, the risk remained 23% higher.
Breaking down the numbers, the risk of heart attacks increased by 18%, while the risk of strokes rose by 35%, indicating that these two conditions were the primary drivers of the overall increased risk.
Interestingly, the study found no statistically significant difference in overall mortality or cardiovascular mortality rates. Subgroup analyses consistently showed that the risk increase for those with all three preconditions remained significant, regardless of body mass index, lifestyle habits, or lipid profiles.
Professor Lee Jin-hwa emphasized that this study confirms that even in your 30s, having elevated levels of blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol can significantly increase your long-term risk of heart attacks and strokes. It’s clear that there’s no safe zone when it comes to these health markers.
Professor Cheon added that atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases develop insidiously over decades due to the accumulation of metabolic and hemodynamic factors. These changes not only increase lifelong cardiovascular risks but also accelerate the development of asymptomatic atherosclerosis.
He stressed the significance of the research, noting that this study highlights that even individuals classified as low-risk in short-term, 10-year assessments during their 30s may actually face underestimated long-term cardiovascular risks.
Professor Lee Min-woo offered practical advice, stating that it’s crucial for young people to manage their weight, avoid smoking, limit alcohol intake, maintain a healthy diet, and engage in regular exercise to keep their blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels as close to normal as possible. It needs to implement comprehensive monitoring and tailored lifestyle interventions for this age group.
Recent statistics from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service paint a concerning picture. While the proportion of heart attack and stroke patients in their 30s remains relatively low, the rate of increase in cardiovascular disease cases among people in their 30s and 40s has outpaced the overall average. This trend underscores the urgent need for increased awareness and preventive measures targeting younger populations.
