Individual Differences in the Association of Lifestyle with Cardiometabolic Risk in Middle-Aged Koreans Based on Traditional Korean Medicine

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 14;19(22):14963. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192214963.

Abstract

Cardiometabolic (CM) risk differs in morbidity and disease progression depending on lifestyle and individual characteristics. This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the association between CM risk and lifestyle and examine whether this association varies based on Sasang constitution (SC), a Korean medicine classification. Data were analyzed from 1996 individuals participating in the Korean Medicine Daejeon Citizen Cohort study. Individuals with CM risk had two to five CM risk factors. Lifestyle factors included physical activity, sleep duration, and eating index. SC types were Taeeum-in (TE) and non-TE. We estimated the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval for CM risk based on SC and lifestyle factors. Among the participants, 33.9% had a CM risk, and the TE and non-TE groups were 26.2% and 7.7%, respectively. In the TE group, CM risk was associated with low physical activity (OR, 1.63) and moderate eating index (OR, 1.41). In the non-TE group, CM risk was associated with ≥8 h of sleep (OR, 1.87) and marginally associated with ≤6 h of sleep. In the TE group alone, CM risk was significantly associated with lifestyle patterns that combined the three lifestyle factors and was approximately two-fold higher in patterns involving less physical activity. The effects of lifestyle on CM risk differed across SC types. To decrease the burden of cardiovascular diseases in middle-aged adults, we recommend an individualized management strategy of healthy lifestyle interventions for cardiovascular risks.

Keywords: Sasang constitution; cardiometabolic risk; eating index; lifestyle; physical activity; sleep.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Individuality*
  • Life Style
  • Middle Aged
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Korea Institution of Oriental Medicine, grant number KSN2023120.