A healthy lifestyle is positively associated with mental and cardiovascular health

Abstract

Health behaviours, including BMI, physical activity, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and diet, have been associated with mental and cardiovascular health. However, most studies investigate a single behaviour. In this study, we developed a lifestyle score combining these health behaviours. The association between this score and multiple mental and cardiovascular health outcomes was determined using Belgian Health Interview Survey 2018 (BHIS) data (n=5,997). Additionally, in a subset of 888 participants, blood pressure (BP) measurements were linked to lifestyle. Multivariate logistic regressions and mixed-effect models were carried out, taking into account a priori selected covariates. Compared to the least healthy lifestyle, the healthiest lifestyle was associated with lower odds of psychological distress (odds ratio [OR]: 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30 to 0.56) and cardiovascular disease (OR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.52). Similar results were found for low life satisfaction, suboptimal vital energy, major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, suicidal ideation, high self-reported BP, high blood cholesterol, and high or potentially high BP. Finally, the healthiest lifestyle was associated with higher odds of normal BP, represented by 3.84% (95% CI: -6.88 to -0.69%) lower systolic and 6.16% (95% CI: -9.25 to -2.96%) lower diastolic BP compared to the least healthy lifestyle. These results suggest that adherence to lifestyle guidelines can decrease disease prevalence and healthcare costs.