Do Cardiovascular Diseases Significantly Influence Healthy Aging?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Demography
• Gerontology

Background:

• Population development is assessed using sustainable development indicators, including longevity (life expectancy) and healthy aging (healthy life expectancy).
• Increasing life expectancy and decreasing birth rates contribute to population aging, impacting various societal sectors.
• Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality in Europe, necessitating an examination of its influence on population health metrics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of cardiovascular disease on longevity and healthy aging in Europe.
• To identify socio-economic factors correlated with longevity and healthy aging.
• To understand the relationship between cardiovascular disease and healthy aging across European countries.

Main Methods:

• Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify socio-economic factors linked to longevity and healthy aging.
• Regression analysis to determine the relationship between healthy aging and cardiovascular disease.
• Hierarchical Cluster Analysis to group countries based on commonalities in healthy aging and longevity.

Main Results:

• Socio-economic factors significantly correlate with longevity and healthy aging indicators.
• Cardiovascular disease demonstrates a measurable impact on healthy life expectancy.
• Countries can be grouped by distinct patterns of healthy aging and longevity, influenced by cardiovascular disease prevalence.

Conclusions:

• Cardiovascular disease is a critical determinant affecting both longevity and healthy aging across Europe.
• Understanding these relationships is vital for effective public health interventions and resource allocation.
• Policy interventions targeting cardiovascular disease can improve population health and mitigate the challenges of an aging population.