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Attributable fractions of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases

Atsushi Hozawa1

  • 1Department of Public Health, Yamagata University, Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan. a-hozawa@med.id.yamagata-u.ac.jp

Journal of Epidemiology
|February 5, 2011
PubMed

Insights

High blood pressure and smoking significantly contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths in Japan. Addressing these major risk factors is crucial for reducing mortality and improving public health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a primary cause of mortality in Japan.
  • Identifying major CVD risk factors is essential for effective prevention strategies.
  • Population attributable fraction (PAF) quantifies the impact of risk factors on disease burden.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the population attributable fractions (PAFs) of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Japan.
  • To analyze the contribution of major risk factors to CVD mortality.
  • To assess the impact of conventional risk factors on overall mortality.

Main Methods:

  • Calculated PAF using the formula: pd × (multiadjusted relative risk - 1)/multiadjusted relative risk.
  • Utilized data from multiple prospective cohort studies including Ohsaki Cohort Study, EPOCH-JAPAN, NIPPON DATA80, Miyagi Cohort Study, CARDIA Study, and ARIC Study.
  • Analyzed the prevalence and relative risk of various risk factors for CVD.

Main Results:

  • Nonoptimal blood pressure accounted for 47% of CVD mortality in middle-aged and 26% in elderly Japanese.
  • Cigarette smoking explained 34% of all-cause mortality in middle-aged men.
  • Combined hypertension and smoking explained 57% of CVD mortality in younger men and 44% in women. The presence of any nonoptimal risk factor explained most CVD and all-cause deaths.

Conclusions:

  • Established CVD risk factors, particularly high blood pressure and smoking, are major contributors to both CVD and all-cause mortality.
  • Effective prevention, early detection, and treatment of hypertension and smoking are necessary to reduce mortality.
  • Targeting these conventional risk factors can significantly mitigate the burden of cardiovascular disease.
Abstract

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