Association of a Mediterranean lifestyle with all-cause and cause-specific mortality

A study examined the association between the Mediterranean lifestyle and all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in a British population.
Participants in the study were 110,799 individuals aged 40 to 75 years from the UK Biobank cohort, who were free of CVD or cancer between 2009 and 2012 who were followed-up to 2021. The Mediterranean lifestyle was assessed at baseline through the Mediterranean Lifestyle (MEDLIFE) index, derived from the lifestyle questionnaire and diet assessments and comprising three blocks: (1) “Mediterranean food consumption,” (2) “Mediterranean dietary habits,” and (3) “physical activity, rest, social habits, and conviviality.” Death information was retrieved from death register records.
During a median 9.4-year follow-up, 4247 total deaths, 2401 cancer deaths, and 731 CVD deaths were identified. Compared with the first quartile of the MEDLIFE index, increasing quartiles had HRs of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.81 to 0.97), 0.81 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.89), and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.78). For cancer mortality, the quartiles had HRs of 0.90 (95% CI, 0.80 to 1.01), 0.83 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.93), and 0.72 (95% CI, 0.64 to 0.82). All MEDLIFE index blocks were independently associated with lower risk of all-cause and cancer death, and block 3 was associated with lower CVD mortality.
Higher adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle was associated with lower all-cause and cancer mortality in British middle-aged and older adults in a dose-response manner. Adopting a Mediterranean lifestyle adapted to the local characteristics of non-Mediterranean populations may be possible and part of a healthy lifestyle.
Source: Maroto-Rodriguez J, Delgado-Velandia M, Ortolá R, Perez-Cornago A, Kales SN, Rodríguez-Artalejo F, Sotos-Prieto M. Association of a Mediterranean Lifestyle With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Prospective Study from the UK Biobank. Mayo Clin Proc. 2024 Apr;99(4):551-563.