Estimation of heart age in 139.634 spanish workers: influence of sociodemographic variables and healthy habits and determination of cut-off points.

Abstract

[eng] Aim: To assess the relationship of sociodemographic variables and healthy habits with heart age values. To establish cut-off points for moderate and high cardiac age. Methods: Heart age was determined in 139.634 workers and its relationship with sociodemographic variables (age, sex, social classand educational level) and healthy habits (tobacco and alcohol consumption, physical activity and adherence to the Mediterranean diet) was assessed. The cut-off points for moderate and high cardiac age were determined by applying ROC curves. Results: The mean values and prevalence of high heart age values are influenced by all the sociodemographic variables and healthy habits analyzed, especially by age and tobacco consumption. The cut-off points established for moderate and high heart age are set at +11 and +17 years respectively. Conclusions: All sociodemographic variables, especially age, and healthy habits, mainly smoking, influence heart age values. Heart age values 11 and 17 years higher than chronological age are considered moderate and high respectively.