Association Between Life's Essential 8 Cardiovascular Health Score and Kidney Stones
Overview
This study analyzed data from 14,117 U.S. adults to investigate the relationship between cardiovascular health, measured by Life's Essential 8 (LE8), and the prevalence of kidney stones. Findings indicate that higher LE8 scores, reflecting better cardiovascular health, are associated with a lower likelihood of having kidney stones.
Background
Kidney stones are increasingly prevalent worldwide and share common risk factors with cardiovascular disease, such as obesity, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome. The American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8) metric evaluates cardiovascular health by incorporating behavioral and health factors, including sleep quality. While LE8 has been linked to improved cardiovascular outcomes, its association with kidney stones had not been previously studied. Understanding this relationship may elucidate shared pathophysiological mechanisms between cardiovascular health and kidney stone formation.
Data Highlights
Characteristic
Value
Sample Size
14,117 adults (≥20 years)
Data Source
NHANES 2007-2018
LE8 Score Categories
High (80-100), Moderate (50-79), Low (0-49)
Kidney Stone History
Self-reported via questionnaire
Key Findings
Higher overall LE8 cardiovascular health scores are inversely associated with the prevalence of kidney stones.
Both health behavior components (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep duration) and health factor components (BMI, blood lipids, blood glucose, blood pressure) of LE8 contribute to this association.
Adjusted odds ratios accounted for confounders including age, sex, race, education, marital status, poverty ratio, alcohol intake, and cardiovascular disease.
Individuals with better cardiovascular health behaviors and factors had significantly lower odds of reporting a history of kidney stones.
The study supports a potential physiological link between cardiovascular health and kidney stone formation.
Clinical Implications
Clinicians should consider cardiovascular health optimization, as assessed by LE8 metrics, as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce kidney stone risk. Interventions targeting modifiable behaviors such as diet, physical activity, smoking cessation, and sleep hygiene may confer dual benefits for cardiovascular and renal health. Screening for kidney stones in patients with poor cardiovascular health profiles may be warranted.
Conclusion
This nationally representative study demonstrates a significant inverse association between Life's Essential 8 cardiovascular health scores and kidney stone prevalence, highlighting the importance of integrated management of cardiovascular and renal risk factors.
