Professor Perk also noted the 80 per cent reduced risk of hypertension in those few women adhering to all six lifestyle factors studied. This, he explained, is a proportional benefit similar to that found in the Interheart study, the 2004 global study led by McMaster University in Canada, which showed that 90 per cent of first heart attacks were attributable to nine risk factors, all related to lifestyle. "So there's a consistent pattern here," explains Professor Perk, "suggesting that four out of five cases of hypertension or heart attack are amenable to lifestyle intervention. So, most of us can do something about prevention. It's a public health issue, and we need to put our heads together."

Professor Perk also reaffirmed the three essential lifestyle messages of the ESC Guidelines on CVD Prevention: no smoking, physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day, and maintenance of a normal BMI through exercise and appropriate calorie intake. "These two studies yet again confirm the wisdom of this advice," says Professor Perk, "and provide even more evidence to translate our knowledge into action."

A session on the female heart, which includes the impact of lifestyle factors (as well as an update on postmenopausal hormone therapy and statins in women), is one of 50 separate sessions on prevention in the prearranged scientific programme of this year's ESC Congress. The congress itself - the world's largest meeting in cardiovascular disease - will attract more than 30,000 participants with presentations drawn from more than 9000 abstracts submitted.

Bibliographic References:

1. Djouss?© L, Driver JA, Gazioano JM. Relation between modifiable lifestyle factors and lifetime risk of heart failure. JAMA 2009; 302: 394-400.

2. Roger V. Lifestyle and cardiovascular health. JAMA 2009; 302: 437-439.

3. Forman JP, Stampfer MJ, Curhan GC. Diet and lifestyle risk factors associated with incident hypertension in women. JAMA 2009; 302: 402-411.

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