title: Cardiovascular and other causes of death as a function of lifestyle habits in a quasi extinct middle-aged male population. A 50-year follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To relate major causes of death with lifestyle habits in an almost extinct male middle-aged population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 40-59 aged male population of 1712 subjects was examined and followed-up for 50 years. Baseline smoking habits, working physical activity and dietary habits were related to 50 years mortality subdivided into 12 simple and 3 composite causes of death by Cox proportional hazard models. Duration of survival was related to the same characteristics by a multiple linear regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Death rate in 50 years was of 97.5%. Out of 12 simple groups of causes of death, 6 were related to smoking habits, 3 to physical activity and 4 to dietary habits. Among composite groups of causes of death, hazard ratios (and their 95% confidence limits) of never smokers versus smokers were 0.68 (0.57-0.81) for major cardiovascular diseases; 0.65 (0.52-0.81) for all cancers; and 0.72 (0.64-0.81) for all-cause deaths. Hazard ratios of vigorous physical activity at work versus sedentary physical activity were 0.63 (0.49-0.80) for major cardiovascular diseases; 1.01 (0.72-1.41) for all cancers; and 0.76 (0.64-0.90) for all-cause deaths. Hazard ratios of Mediterranean Diet versus non-Mediterranean Diet were 0.68 (0.54-0.86) for major cardiovascular diseases; 0.54 (0.40-0.73) for all cancers; and 0.67 (0.57-0.78) for all-cause deaths. Expectancy of life was 12 years longer for men with the 3 best behaviors than for those with the 3 worst behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some lifestyle habits are strongly related to lifetime mortality.
authors.affiliation: Association for Cardiac Research, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrological, Anesthesiological and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: paoloemilio.puddu@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Paolo Emilio
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Puddu
authors.affiliation: Centro di Ricerca per gli Alimenti e la Nutrizione, CREA-NUT, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maiani
authors.affiliation: Centro di Ricerca per gli Alimenti e la Nutrizione, CREA-NUT, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Catasta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000401:mortality* / Q000639:trends; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: 50-Year follow-up; All-cause deaths; Cancers; Cardiovascular diseases; Lifestyle; Lifetime mortality