During menopause, just 20% of women achieve ideal scores on the American Heart Association’s health-assessment tool, Life’s Essential 8 (LE8). Of its eight key health metrics, four—blood sugar, blood pressure, sleep quality, and nicotine use—play a major role in predicting future heart risks. Among them, sleep stands out as especially important for long-term cardiovascular health.
The study, published in Menopause, was conducted by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Baylor University.
Menopause Marks a Critical Window for Women to Prioritize Heart Health, Researcher Says
“We’ve previously shown that the transition into menopause is a period when cardiovascular risk increases,” said senior author Dr. Samar R. El Khoudary, professor of epidemiology at Pitt’s School of Public Health. “This research highlights that it’s also a crucial time for women to take charge of their heart health.”
The team analyzed health data from roughly 3,000 participants in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN)—a long-term, multi-site, multi-ethnic study of women in midlife that began in 1996.
They compared the women’s initial Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) scores, taken around age 46, with their health outcomes over time. These included early signs of heart disease, like thickening of the carotid arteries, as well as major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes, and overall mortality.
Study Examines the Impact of Each LE8 Health Metric on Women’s Cardiovascular Risk
Researchers also assessed the influence of each individual LE8 factor: diet, physical activity, non-smoking status, sleep, body mass index, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and blood pressure.
The analysis revealed that four components of the Life’s Essential 8—blood sugar, blood pressure, sleep quality, and nicotine use—were the strongest predictors of future cardiovascular risk in the participants.
Among these, sleep stood out as a possible indicator of long-term risk for heart disease and overall mortality, though it was not linked to short-term changes like carotid artery thickening.
The researchers found that achieving healthy sleep—defined in LE8 as averaging 7 to 9 hours per night—during midlife could support better heart health and longer life expectancy in women. This idea warrants further exploration through clinical trials, noted first author Ziyuan Wang, a Ph.D. candidate at Pitt Public Health.
Unsurprisingly, low overall LE8 scores were associated with higher cardiovascular risk. Yet only 21% of midlife women in the study met the criteria for an ideal LE8 score.
“With heart disease as the leading cause of death among women, these findings highlight the urgent need for both lifestyle changes and medical support to improve heart health during and after menopause,” added Dr. El Khoudary.
Read the original article on: MedicalXpress
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