Landmark Research Studies
completed

The INTERHEART study found that nine easily measurable and modifiable risk factors could explain more than 90 per cent of the risk of a heart attack globally and in all regions and major ethnic groups of the world.

This landmark study emphasized that avoidance of tobacco, daily consumption of fruits and vegetables and regular exercise could potentially avoid two-thirds of heart disease.

The INTERHEART results also indicated that the two most important risk factors for myocardial infarction (MI) globally are:

  • Tobacco: Smoking even one cigarette per day increases the risk of MI by five per cent.
  • Abnormal lipids (fats in the blood).

As well, INTERHEART found that the markers of abdominal obesity and hip size (waist-to-hip-ratio) are far more predictive than body mass index (BMI) in predicting MI. Furthermore, stress and psychosocial factors were found to be important risk factors for MI.

INTERHEART - Download PDF
Study Type

Observational

Study Design

Case-control

NO. of Countries

52

NO. of Sites

262

NO. of Participants

29972

Study Period

1999-2003

Sponsor

PHRI

Back To Top