Health practices and cancer mortality among active California Mormons

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Religiously active Mormons are known for their healthy lifestyle, including being a nonsmoking population.
• Previous descriptive studies suggested lower cancer incidence among Mormons.
• Lack of prospective cohort data limited generalization of these findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first prospective cohort study on Mormon mortality.
• To assess cancer and cardiovascular disease risks in actively religious Mormons.
• To evaluate the impact of specific health practices on mortality.

Main Methods:

• A 1979 lifestyle questionnaire survey was administered to 5,231 Mormon high priests and 4,613 wives (ages 25-99).
• An 8-year mortality follow-up (1980-1987) was conducted.
• Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated relative to the general white US population.

Main Results:

• Males had significantly low SMRs: 47 for all cancers, 52 for cardiovascular diseases, and 47 for all causes.
• Females also showed reduced SMRs: 72 for all cancers, 64 for cardiovascular diseases, and 66 for all causes.
• Middle-aged high priests practicing healthy lifestyles (no smoking, regular activity, proper sleep) had exceptionally low SMRs (e.g., 14 for cardiovascular diseases).

Conclusions:

• Actively religious Mormons represent a population with unusually low cancer and cardiovascular disease risks.
• Adherence to specific health practices dramatically reduces mortality risks.
• Findings confirm and generalize previous observations on Mormon health and lifestyle.