TY - JOUR
T1 - Lifestyle determinants of healthy ageing in a Mediterranean population
T2 - The multinational MEDIS study
AU - the MEDIS Study Group
AU - Foscolou, Alexandra
AU - Magriplis, Emmanuella
AU - Tyrovolas, Stefanos
AU - Soulis, George
AU - Bountziouka, Vassiliki
AU - Mariolis, Anargiros
AU - Piscopo, Suzanne
AU - Valacchi, Giuseppe
AU - Anastasiou, Foteini
AU - Gotsis, Efthimios
AU - Metallinos, George
AU - Tyrovola, Dimitra
AU - Polystipioti, Anna
AU - Polychronopoulos, Evangelos
AU - Matalas, Antonia Leda
AU - Lionis, Christos
AU - Zeimbekis, Akis
AU - Tur, Josep Antoni
AU - Sidossis, Labros S.
AU - Panagiotakos, Demosthenes
PY - 2018/9/1
Y1 - 2018/9/1
N2 - Background: To evaluate modifiable, lifestyle risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among older adults, across ageing, in the Mediterranean area. Methods: During 2005–2017, 3131 individuals from 26 Mediterranean islands of 5 countries, ≥65 years of age, were voluntarily enrolled. Anthropometrical, clinical and socio-demographic characteristics, dietary habits, lifestyle parameters were measured through standard procedures. Analyses were performed by year and across consecutive age groups of the participants. Results: A decrease in the prevalence of current smoking (p < 0.001), engagement in physical activities (p = 0.001) and participation in social events (p = 0.001) for every year increase in age was found. Moderate alcohol drinking increased through ageing (p = 0.008), whereas adherence to Mediterranean diet remained stable, but adequate (p = 0.90). Trend analysis also revealed that a quadratic (U-shape) function better characterized the association between ageing and total cardiometabolic risk factors burden (p for trend <0.001). Conclusions: The gaps in the understanding of factors affecting longevity and healthy ageing remain; public health authorities and stakeholders should focus on the lifestyle determinants of healthy ageing, that seems to be an effective mean for improving older peoples’ health.
AB - Background: To evaluate modifiable, lifestyle risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among older adults, across ageing, in the Mediterranean area. Methods: During 2005–2017, 3131 individuals from 26 Mediterranean islands of 5 countries, ≥65 years of age, were voluntarily enrolled. Anthropometrical, clinical and socio-demographic characteristics, dietary habits, lifestyle parameters were measured through standard procedures. Analyses were performed by year and across consecutive age groups of the participants. Results: A decrease in the prevalence of current smoking (p < 0.001), engagement in physical activities (p = 0.001) and participation in social events (p = 0.001) for every year increase in age was found. Moderate alcohol drinking increased through ageing (p = 0.008), whereas adherence to Mediterranean diet remained stable, but adequate (p = 0.90). Trend analysis also revealed that a quadratic (U-shape) function better characterized the association between ageing and total cardiometabolic risk factors burden (p for trend <0.001). Conclusions: The gaps in the understanding of factors affecting longevity and healthy ageing remain; public health authorities and stakeholders should focus on the lifestyle determinants of healthy ageing, that seems to be an effective mean for improving older peoples’ health.
KW - Elderly
KW - Health policy
KW - Healthy ageing
KW - Longevity
KW - Mediterranean
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85047068430&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.exger.2018.05.008
DO - 10.1016/j.exger.2018.05.008
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85047068430
SN - 0531-5565
VL - 110
SP - 35
EP - 41
JO - Experimental Gerontology
JF - Experimental Gerontology
ER -