Latest news with #JAMACardiology
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Your birth certificate says 45 but your heart may be 55: Study shows how Americans' hearts are ageing faster than them
Your heart may be ageing faster than your birth certificate suggests, and for many Americans, especially those with lower income or education, that age gap is alarmingly wide. According to a study published in JAMA Cardiology on July 30, 2025, the average American's cardiovascular system functions years older than their actual age, about four years older for women and seven years older for men. (Also read: Cardiologist explains how a simple blood test can predict heart attack risk years in advance: 'Before symptoms appear…' ) New 'risk age' concept highlights alarming heart health gaps among low-income adults. (Shutterstock) What is 'risk age' and why it matters The study, based on data from over 14,000 adults, introduces a new concept called 'risk age', a way of communicating heart disease risk not through percentages, but by comparing a person's heart to that of someone in perfect cardiovascular health. Study reveals that many Americans have hearts that function years older than their actual age. (Pixabay) Researchers found striking disparities based on socioeconomic status. Adults with only a high school education or less showed significantly older heart ages, up to 10 years older in some cases. Income mattered even more: lower-income men had hearts ageing more than 8 years ahead of their age, and nearly 1 in 3 had heart ages 10+ years older. Impact of education, income and race on heart ageing Non-Hispanic Black adults had the highest gaps, especially men, whose hearts aged an average of 8.5 years beyond their chronological age. Hispanic and Asian adults also showed disparities, but Asian women had the smallest gap, less than three years. Instead of saying a patient has a 15 percent risk of heart disease, doctors can now say their heart functions like someone a decade older. This 'risk age' method may help younger adults understand their health risks more clearly and encourage better prevention efforts. While individual choices matter, the research highlights how education and income levels shape heart health deeply. The findings call for not just lifestyle changes, but systemic solutions to close the cardiovascular health gap in America. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
NDTV
10 hours ago
- Health
- NDTV
Is Your Heart Ageing Faster Than You? Here's How To Find Out Your "Heart Age"
Your heart may be older than you are, new research suggests. A study published Wednesday in JAMA Cardiology found that many adults, especially in the United States, have a "heart age" that is several years older than their actual age. Researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine noted that this age gap is wider in men than in women. To help people assess their own cardiac health, the team developed a free online tool, called the PREVENT Risk Age Calculator, to calculate the heart age. According to Fox News, the tool uses information about an individual's health, such as their cholesterol levels, blood pressure, BMI, medications, smoking habits and diabetes status to come up with their estimated risk for cardiovascular disease and heart failure. The risk level is provided as an age rather than a percentage. "Heart age, or PREVENT age, may be particularly useful for patients and clinicians and be more effective in preventing heart disease," senior author Dr Sadiya Khan, the Magerstadt professor of cardiovascular epidemiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, who led the development of the PREVENT equations, told Fox News Digital. "It translates complex information about the risk of heart attack, stroke or heart failure over the next 10 years into a number that is easier to understand and compare with one we are all familiar with - your actual age," he added. With the tool, the researchers aim to help doctors and patients discuss heart disease risk more effectively in a bid to ensure the right therapies are used to prevent heart attack, stroke or heart failure events. Researchers put their heart age tool to the test using data from a nationally representative sample of more than 14,000 people ages 30 to 79. No one in the sample had a history of cardiovascular disease. The team then used the health data of the participants to calculate their heart age and compare that to their actual chronological ages. They found that, for many in the sample, the risk age of their heart was greater than their chronological age. Women had an average heart age of 55.4, nearly four years higher than their average chronological age of 51.3. Men, on the other hand, had an average heart age of 56.7, seven years higher than their chronological age of 49.7. While "it's probably not that meaningful if your age is off by one or two years," Dr Khan says, the authors recommend getting concerned if the gap is five years or more. "We hope this new heart age calculator will help support discussions about prevention and ultimately improve health for all people," he added. However, researchers said that there is one limitation of the study. "The definition of optimal risk may influence the calculation of PREVENT risk age," they wrote, adding, "Alternatively, population-based percentiles of risk can provide a complementary approach to communicating risk, but these are influenced by suboptimal population health." "This type of tool needs to be tested widely to determine if it is more readily understood," Dr Khan said.
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Is your heart aging faster than you? US cardiologists develop tool to calculate the actual 'heart age'
'Child at heart' has never been more relevant! Or is it 'old at heart'? Do you think your heart's the same age as your calendar age? Think again. A team of US cardiologists has launched a free online tool that calculates your cardiovascular 'heart age' using familiar health metrics, like blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes status, kidney function, and smoking history. The system translates complex cardiovascular risk into a simple age, making it easier to understand and take action. Launched alongside a large nationwide study of over 14,000 adults (aged 30-79), the tool reveals many Americans have hearts aging faster than expected. Here's how it works, who's most affected, and what you can do to turn back the clock. What the study revealed Researchers at Northwestern University published their findings on July 30 in JAMA Cardiology , using the PREVENT risk equations developed by the American Heart Association . These modern equations incorporate routine health data and reflect diverse populations more accurately than older models like Framingham. When applied to participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2020), the tool revealed that over 50% of adults have 'heart ages' that exceed their actual age. What exactly is 'heart age'? Heart age refers to the estimated age of a person's cardiovascular system based on their risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and physical inactivity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hiranandani Fortune City: At Panvel, Mumbai: 2BHK: 1.05 Cr* Hiranandani Fortune City Enquire Now Undo It's a way to understand how lifestyle and health choices affect the health of your heart, potentially making it older or younger than your actual age. The 'heart age' calculator The study led by Dr. Sadiya Khan of Northwestern University introduced the tool in JAMA Cardiology, basing it on the PREVENT risk model, an updated alternative to older frameworks like the Framingham Risk Score. The online calculator translates users' routine health data into a 'heart age' score that aims to make cardiovascular risk more relatable and actionable, especially in busy primary care settings. The shocking truth about most Americans' 'heart age' Using data from over 14,000 adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the study found: Women averaged a heart age of 55.4, while their actual age averaged 51.3 Men averaged a heart age of 56.7, compared to an actual age of 49.7 That means many Americans could have hearts that are 4-7 years older than their birth certificate suggests. Sociodemographic factors sharpened the disparity. On average, Black men had a heart age that was 8.5 years older than their chronological age while Black women's hearts were 6.2 years older than their actual age. Hispanic men had a gap of 7.9 years between their heart age and actual age, compared to a gap of 4.8 years for Hispanic women. Lower education levels (especially high school or less) were associated with wider heart-age gaps, often exceeding a decade. Meanwhile, white men had an average heart age that was 6.4 years higher than their actual age. And white women had a gap of 3.7 years between their heart age and chronological age. Why 'heart age' resonates (better than percentages) Traditional risk models offer a percentage chance of a cardiovascular event, something like an '8% risk in 10 years.' But those numbers can feel abstract and fail to motivate many patients. On the other hand, describing cardiovascular risk in terms of 'heart age' helps people understand how their habits and health metrics stack up. Preventive cardiologist Dr. Sadiya Khan explains that this age-based framing motivates actionable conversations and encourages preventive steps earlier, especially in younger adults who may overlook long-term risk. Experts' take As reported by Today, while "it's probably not that meaningful if your age is off by one or two years," says Dr. Sadiya Khan. The authors of the research recommend getting concerned if the gap is five years or more. As per Dr. Khan, "Heart disease is the leading cause of death. So the gaps that we're seeing are similar to gaps in life expectancy and may be contributing to it." "Because the (heart ages) are based on 10-year risks, this is a little bit of a forecast," Khan explains. And the data is "likely pointing to worsening cardiovascular disease risk if we're seeing gaps in even young people," she says. On the flip side, some people had heart ages that were actually lower than their chronological age, which Khan describes as "the Holy Grail." That's likely thanks, at least in part, to genetics, which means it's not totally within our control, she says. Aiming for a heart age that's younger than your chronological age is probably overly optimistic, Khan says, but knowing that it's possible makes it a worthy goal. How does the calculator work (and what are the limitations) The tool requires a few metrics to calculate your heart age, such as: Age, sex Blood pressure (systolic) Cholesterol levels Diabetes and smoking status Kidney health (eGFR) Use of blood pressure medications It is tailored for adults 30-79 years old with no existing cardiovascular disease, and is designed for educational use, not to replace physician evaluation. Experts caution that the tool does not account for physical fitness, exercise habits, or women-specific cardiovascular risk factors such as pregnancy-related complications or menopause How to slow down the heart's aging To slow down the heart's aging process and reduce the risk of heart disease, focus on adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, a heart-healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress, getting enough sleep, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Regular health checkups are also crucial for early detection and management of any potential heart issues. Research suggests, even modest changes, such as walking regularly or improving diet, can bring your heart age closer to or even below your actual age over time. Faster pace of walking lowers risk of heart failure in postmenopausal women: Research Study
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Health
- Washington Post
Is your heart aging faster than you? Here's how to check its biological age.
Is your heart older than you are? A free, newly developed online calculator may be able to tell you, according to a large-scale study of heart health published Wednesday in JAMA Cardiology. Based on the most current equations about risks for cardiovascular disease, the calculator uses answers to a few simple questions about blood pressure, cholesterol status and other common measures of health, to determine your heart's biological age, which can be different from your body's chronological or calendar age.
Medscape
16-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Missed Target Treatment Times May Increase MI Mortality
When it comes to delivering timely treatment for patients experiencing myocardial infarction (MI), many hospitals are continuing to fall short of national guidelines, new research showed. Benchmarks for percutaneous coronary intervention, the standard of care for acute ST-elevation MI (STEMI), aren't being met in some cases. Delays in care in the key metric of the time from first contact with medical care to angioplasty with stenting resulted in worse patient outcomes and were associated with increased in-hospital mortality risk in some cases, according to the findings, published on June 11 in JAMA Cardiology . 'There are two categories of patient delays: Those that are patient-centered and those that are system-centered,' said Neal S. Kleiman, MD, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, Houston, the senior author of the new study. 'We don't have control over patient-related factors, but there is a lot we can do in terms of hospital systems.' For the retrospective cross-sectional study, Kleiman and his colleagues analyzed data on 73,826 patients with STEMI or STEMI equivalent from 503 sites across the United States. The goal was to determine site-level variability in patterns of treatment times and clinical outcomes from 2020 to 2022 based on an analysis of data from the American Heart Association's Get With the Guidelines — Coronary Artery Disease registry — a quality improvement program for patients with coronary artery disease, acute MI and chest pain. The authors said the study is the first large-scale analysis of treatment goals and outcomes in STEMI based on hospital performance. The researchers found an association between failure to reach the target time from first medical contact with care to angioplasty with stenting — 90 minutes or less — and increased risk for in-hospital mortality for primary presentations and transfers (adjusted odds ratio, 2.21; 95% CI, 2.02-2.42, and 2.44; 95% CI, 1.90-3.12, respectively). Low-performing hospitals were associated with increased risk for mortality and longer stays in the hospital than were high-performing hospitals. However, hospital location and case volume were not associated with worse outcomes. The guidelines recommend a target time from first contact with care to angioplasty with stenting of 90 minutes or less for patients presenting directly to hospitals offering angioplasty with stenting and 120 minutes or less for patients requiring transfer to a facility offering the procedure. The study findings revealed significant variability between hospital sites in meeting the key metric of the recommendations — adherence in at least 75% of patients with STEMI. At hospitals with the capability to perform angioplasty with stenting, the target was met in 72.2% of patients at high-performing sites, 60.8% at intermediate-performing sites, and 46.0% at low-performing sites. When patients required transfers to other facilities with the capability to perform angioplasty, a target first medical contact-to-device treatment time of 120 minutes or less was achieved in 72.3% of patients at high-performing sites, 48.8% at intermediate performing sites, and 21.9% at low-performing sites, according to the researchers. In these hospitals, treatment delays were caused primarily by longer stays in the emergency department and time from arrival in the catheterization laboratory to stenting. Limitations of the study included the fact registry responses were provided on a voluntary basis and may not reflect the totality of STEMI care in all geographical areas, according to the researchers. The analysis also lacked data on follow-up after discharge, making it difficult to extrapolate the findings over the long term, they said. Yasser M. Sammour, MD, MSc, cardiology fellow at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, who led the work, said several decades of research have highlighted the importance of treating patients with STEMI efficiently. A previous registry study found fewer treatment delays were linked to reduced mortality. 'The current study tried to take that research one step further, assessing how factors such as hospital performance and location affect patient outcomes,' Sammour said. The result, he said: 'We're still underperforming. We need to have coordinated strategies with local intervention at the hospital level to examine where significant delays in percutaneous coronary intervention time are occurring.' The absence of uniformity in established performance measures such as time to initiate treatment in STEMI has led to calls for greater adherence to current recommendations. In an editorial accompanying the journal article, Roxana Mehran, MD, Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in New York City, wrote: 'After two decades of data collection, national initiatives, and public accountability, the next step must involve tailored solutions addressing barriers within each institution. Bridging the gap now requires renewed efforts and commitments to prioritize timely, coordinated STEMI care. Until then, the clock will continue to tick — against our patients.'
