Table 1. Definitions of CVH metrics in the recommendations of AHA and in the study of CAIDE.
| Metrics | Poor level (score = 0) | Intermediate level (score = 1) | Optimal level (score = 2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoking* | Current smoking | Former smoking ≤1 year ago | Never smoking or quit >1 year |
| Physical activity | No physical activity | AHA: 1–149 min/week moderate intensity or 1–74 min/week vigorous intensity or 1–149 min/week moderate + vigorous CAIDE: ≤1 time/week of leisure time physical activity that lasts at least 20–30 min and causes breathlessness and sweating |
AHA: ≥150 min/week moderate intensity or ≥75 min/week vigorous intensity or ≥150 min/week moderate + vigorous CAIDE: ≥2 times/week of leisure time physical activity that lasts at least 20–30 min and causes breathlessness and sweating |
| Diet | AHA: 0–1 component of a healthy diet score CAIDE: No data |
AHA: 2–3 components of a healthy diet score CAIDE: No data |
AHA: 4–5 components of a healthy diet score CAIDE: No data |
| BMI* | ≥30 kg/m2 | 25–29.9 kg/m2 | <25 kg/m2 |
| Fasting plasma glucose# | AHA: ≥7.0 mmol/l CAIDE: diabetes treated on drugs (midlife) |
AHA: 5.6–6.9 mmol/l or treated to goal CAIDE: diabetes treated on diet (midlife) |
AHA: <5.6 mmol/l CAIDE: no diabetes (midlife) |
| Serum total cholesterol* | ≥6.21 mmol/l | 5.17–6.20 mmol/l or treated to goal | <5.17 mmol/l untreated |
| Blood pressure* | SBP ≥140 mmHg or DBP ≥90 mmHg | SBP 120–139 or DBP 80–89 mmHg or treated to goal | SBP <120 mmHg and DBP <80 mmHg untreated |
* The definitions for these components in both midlife and late life used in our study were the same as those from AHA’s recommendations (Lloyd-Jones et al., 2010).
# The definition for late-life plasma glucose was the same as that from AHA. In midlife, due to lack of fasting plasma glucose, a proxy was used including the information on self-reported history of diabetes, a recorded diagnosis of diabetes from the inpatient register, and the use of antidiabetic medication from the prescribed drug register.
AHA, American Heart Association; BMI, body mass index; CAIDE, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia; CVH, cardiovascular health; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; SBP, systolic blood pressure.