18/09/09

A decade of difference - BHF urges the middle-aged to have a heart risk check

BHF-funded research published today by the University of Oxford suggests the presence of three key heart disease risk factors in men aged 50 - smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol – could translate into a reduced life expectancy of 10-15 years.

The findings – published in the British Medical Journal - come from the 'Whitehall' study of over 19,000 men aged 40-69 years employed in the civil service in London.

They were first examined in 1967-1970, before the records of 18,863 men were traced and 7,044 surviving participants were re-examined in 1997.

The BHF funded the follow-up examination of the volunteers and health records, which have highlighted the results released today.

Professor Peter Weissberg, BHF Medical Director, said: "This important study puts a figure on the life-limiting effects of smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It provides a stark illustration of how these risk factors in middle age can reduce life expectancy.

"The good news is that all of us can make changes to help us live a healthy life for longer, even after 50.

"We know that stopping smoking and reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, by lifestyle changes and/or tablets, can prevent the onset of heart disease – and these findings suggest it could make a decade of difference to our lives.

"Although the study only involved men, there is no reason why the same should not apply to women.

"So, I urge all men and women over 40 to have a health check - that all GPs can provide - which will include finding out their blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and starting to address any areas of concern."

Public enquiries

We have the following resources and information available to help you stop smoking and stay healthy...

Smoking and How to Give Up booklet and our Smoking webpages

Reducing Your Blood Cholesterol booklet and our Cholesterol webpages

Blood Pressure booklet and our Blood Pressure webpages

Call our Heart HelpLine on 0300 330 3311 or contact us by email

Sign-up for our free Heart Matters membership programme. 

Media enquiries

For more information, or interviews with spokespeople via ISDN, please call the BHF press office on 020 7554 0164 or 07764 290 381 (out of office hours) or email newsdesk@bhf.org.uk

This statement has been issued in response to study: Life expectancy in relation to cardiovascular risk factors:38 year follow-up of 19 000 men in the Whitehall study. R Clarke et al. BMJ 2009;339:b3513 doi:10.1136/bmj.b3513

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