Study: a healthy heart extends life even after a cancer diagnosis

The researchers came to this conclusion after analysing data from a large population-based observational study in Italy. The work was published in the European Heart Journal.

The study was conducted as part of the UMBERTO project by the joint platform of Fondazione Umberto Veronesi ETS and the Epidemiology and Prevention Unit of I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed (Pozzilli) with the participation of LUM University "Giuseppe Degennaro". The analysis is based on data from the Moli-sani Study, one of the largest population-based studies coordinated by Neuromed.

How the study was conducted

Researchers followed 779 Italian adults (men and women) for 15 years. At the time of inclusion in the Moli-sani Study, all participants had already been diagnosed with cancer. To assess health status and adherence to healthy habits, the researchers used the Life's Simple 7 (LS7) index, an American Heart Association scale that takes into account seven factors: smoking, physical activity, diet quality, body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels.

The team then compared these measures to the risk of overall mortality and cancer-related mortality.

Key findings

According to the study, participants who were better at adhering to a "heart-healthy" lifestyle had a 38 per cent lower risk of death compared to people with unhealthy habits.

In addition, each one-point improvement on the LS7 scale was associated with a 10% reduction in the risk of dying from cancer. The authors emphasise that habitual cardiac risk and protective factors, which have been well studied for the general population, may also be a useful reference point for cancer survivors.

The role of the Mediterranean diet

The researchers also tested what would happen if the "nutrition" component of the LS7 (in the US version, the general principles of a healthy diet) were replaced by an assessment of adherence to the Mediterranean diet. In this case, the association between healthy habits and survival became even more pronounced, including rates of death from cardiovascular causes.

The Mediterranean diet, rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, fish and olive oil, has once again shown itself to be an important factor not only for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, but also for the general well-being of people living with a cancer diagnosis.

Why it might work

The authors attribute part of the effect to common biological mechanisms that link cardiovascular disease and cancer: chronic "low-level" inflammation, heart rate and blood levels of vitamin D. The study supports the idea of the so-called "common ground hypothesis" - where different chronic diseases may have overlapping mechanisms of development and common risk factors.

The researchers emphasise public health: primary prevention and healthy lifestyles are important not only for preventing chronic disease in healthy people, but also for improving the prognosis and quality of life in those who have already experienced cancer.