Good heart health may protect against cancers despite genetic predisposition

People with fine cardiovascular health (CVH) have a lower risk of developing cancer regardless of genetic vulnerabilities, suggests a study.

This population-based cohort study was conducted using the UK Biobank. The authors developed the CVH score by measuring physical activity, BMI, nicotine exposure, diet, sleep, blood pressure, lipid profile, and blood glucose. 

Polygenic risk scores (PRS) were measured individually for 18 cancer types by their independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms previously identified in genome-wide association studies. The independent and joint associations of CVH and PRS with cancer incidence risk were examined using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models.

High CVH correlated with reduced risks of overall cancer and the majority of common cancers, including digestive system (hazard ratio [HR] range, 0.33, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.23–0.45 to 0.66, 95 percent CI, 0.58–0.75), lung (HR, 0.25, 95 percent CI, 0.21–0.31), renal (HR, 0.42, 95 percent CI, 0.32–0.56), bladder (HR, 0.55, 95 percent CI, 0.44–0.69), breast (HR, 0.83, 95 percent CI, 0.74–0.92), and endometrial cancers (HR, 0.39, 95 percent CI, 0.30–0.51) relative to low CVH.

An interaction between CVH and PRS was seen for overall cancers in male participants. Additionally, individuals with high CVH across all levels of PRS showed decreased risks of overall cancer for females and eight site-specific cancers compared with those with low CVH and high PRS (HR range, 0.18, 95 percent CI, 0.12–0.25 to 0.79, 95 percent CI, 0.71–0.87).

“High CVH was related to decreased risks of overall cancer and multiple cancers regardless of genetic predispositions,” the authors said. “Our findings underscored the value of improving CVH for cancer prevention in the general population.”