Adults with high Life's Essential 8 scores (80-100) had a 46% reduction in risk of COVID-19 hospitalization or death compared to those with low scores (less than 50).
Key Findings
- For every 14-point increase in Life's Essential 8 score, the risk of COVID-19 hospitalization or death was lower by 20%.
- Higher scores for physical activity, body mass index, blood pressure, and sleep were individually associated with lower risk of severe COVID-19.
Study Details
The study analyzed data from 29,740 adults without clinical cardiovascular disease as of March 2020, with an average age of 66 (61% women).
- 18% had high heart health, 70% moderate, and 12% low.
- 681 severe COVID-19 cases (hospitalization or death) were documented between March 1, 2020 and February 28, 2023.
- 53% of participants were known to have received a COVID-19 vaccination before infection.
- The benefit was similar across age, sex, race, ethnicity, and vaccination status.
Limitations
- Observational study; cannot establish cause and effect.
- Heart health measured only before or at beginning of pandemic; changes during pandemic not assessed.
Statements
Lead author Tim Plante, M.D., M.H.S.: "Our findings suggest that the tremendous impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. could have been reduced if the general population had had better heart health prior to the onset of the pandemic."
Senior author Elizabeth C. Oelsner, M.D., Dr.P.H.: "Better heart health, which is something that individuals can work on, likely prepares you better for real-life stress tests such as infectious diseases like COVID-19."
Sadiya S. Khan, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA (not involved in the study): "Healthy lifestyle habits make a difference for preventing heart disease… and also for more direct health benefits such as preventing adverse outcomes from respiratory infections."