Biological aging has become a popular topic of discussion among scientists in recent years. While there may be differing opinions on how to define it, the concept of determining the age of your body beyond just looking at the calendar has gained traction. Methods such as measuring telomeres or genetic variables have become more appealing for assessing age compared to traditional methods like predicting the likelihood of a heart attack over a period of time.
A new tool has been developed by cardiologists to assess heart health using standard measures such as blood pressure and cholesterol. This tool, known as the heart age calculator, takes into account factors like age, sex, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, kidney health, diabetes, smoking habits, and the use of statins and high blood pressure medications. By inputting these variables into a formula based on the PREVENT model, which incorporates more contemporary data compared to older risk calculators, doctors can compute a patient’s cardiac future during a typical primary care visit.
When this new risk calculator was applied to a group of 14,000 Americans aged 30 to 79, the results showed that more than half of adults have hearts that are older than their actual chronological age. There were significant variations in heart age compared to chronological age among different demographic groups. For instance, women had an average heart age of 55.4 compared to a chronological age of 51.3, while men had an average heart age of 56.7 compared to a chronological age of 49.7.
The researchers behind the heart age calculator believe that presenting this information in terms of heart age could motivate individuals to make positive changes in their lifestyle, such as improving their diet, increasing exercise, quitting smoking, and adhering to prescribed medications. However, they acknowledge that more research is needed to determine the most effective strategy for communicating risk information to patients.
In a related editorial, physicians cautioned that while knowing one’s biological age may encourage some individuals to adopt healthier habits, others may find this information discouraging or overwhelming, especially those facing socioeconomic challenges or other life stressors. They emphasized the importance of framing risk age as an opportunity for positive change rather than a definitive judgment.
Overall, the development of the heart age calculator represents a step forward in preventive cardiology, aiming to help clinicians improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of heart disease. It is essential for public health messaging and clinician communication to be sensitive to the diverse responses individuals may have to learning about their heart age, ensuring that the information is presented as a catalyst for positive change supported by accessible interventions.
