Reporter brief

This prospective cohort study followed 123,219 US nurses and health professionals for up to 34 years to examine whether five modifiable lifestyle factors—never smoking, healthy weight, regular physical activity, moderate alcohol use, and high-quality diet—were associated with mortality and life expectancy. Adults who maintained all five low-risk factors had substantially lower mortality rates (74% lower all-cause mortality hazard ratio) and lived an average of 12–14 years longer beyond age 50 compared to those with none of these factors. The study combined follow-up data with national health surveys and mortality databases to project life expectancies for the US population.

Assessment pending; this report does not establish a change in evidence.

• —Limitations have not been recorded; consult the primary source.

Cohort; Human.

US adults from the Nurses' Health Study (1980-2014; women, n=78,865) and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986-2014; men, n=44,354)

Design

Cohort

Sample

123,219

Journal

Circulation

Published

Jul 24, 2018

Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for five versus zero low-risk factors: all-cause mortality 0.26 (95% CI, 0.22-0.31); cancer mortality 0.35 (95% CI, 0.27-0.45); cardiovascular disease mortality 0.18 (95% CI, 0.12-0.26). Life expectancy at age 50 years: women 43.1 years (95% CI, 41.3-44.9) versus 29.0 years (95% CI, 28.3-29.8); men 37.6 years (95% CI, 35.8-39.4) versus 25.5 years (95% CI, 24.7-26.2). Difference in life expectancy: women 14.0 years (95% CI, 11.8-16.2); men 12.2 years (95% CI, 10.1-14.2).

• —Assessment: Superseded.
• —Only the source material recorded on this evidence page was assessed.

Not reported · Not reported

See the Smoking cessation timeline and recorded assessment for prior evidence.