Life's Essential 8 and the Risk of Overall and Specific-Site Cancer Types - A Large-Scale Prospective Cohort Study

Sep 22, 2026

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Life's Essential 8 (LE8), created to prevent cardiovascular disease, is also examined for links to cancer incidence, including how each LE8 component may influence distinct organ-site cancers. This prospective cohort analysis used Kailuan Study data from 94,239 participants in Tangshan, China, tracking incident cancers through biennial assessments and validated records through December 31, 2022. Cox and competing-risk models adjusted for confounders to estimate LE8 and component-specific effects.

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CategoryHealthcare

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Abstract

Background

Methods

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Main Text (Excerpt)

LE8 framework overview and relevance to cancer

Cancer Medicine | RESEARCH ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS
Life's Essential 8 and the Risk of Overall and Specific-Site Cancer Types: A Large-Scale Prospective Cohort Study
Li Deng1,2,3,4 | Xiao-Meng Hao5 | Zhe Shu6 | Tong Liu1,2,3,4 | Qing-Song Zhang7 | Hong-Tao Wang6 | Han-Ping Shi1,2,3,4
1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China | 2National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China | 3Key Laboratory of Cancer FSMP for State Market Regulation, Beijing, China | 4Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China | 5The Third Department of Breast Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China | 6Department of Medical Records, Tianjin Medical University Cancer
Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China | 7Department of General Surgery, Kailuan General Hospital, Tangshan, China Correspondence: Hong-Tao Wang ([wanghongtao@tjmuch.com](wanghongtao@tjmuch.com)) | Han-Ping Shi ([shihp@ccmu.edu.cn](shihp@ccmu.edu.cn))
Received: 22 October 2024 | Revised: 15 September 2025 | Accepted: 19 December 2025
Keywords: cancer | Life's Essential 8 | prospective | protective | | --- | | ABSTRACT
Background: The Life's Essential 8 (LE8) framework, designed to prevent cardiovascular disease, is also linked to cancer risk, but the direct association between LE8 adherence and cancer incidence remains underexplored. Each LE8 component may affect cancer risk differently across organ systems, warranting further investigation into these relationships.
Methods: This prospective cohort study utilized data from the Kailuan Study, comprising 94,239 participants from Tangshan, China. LE8 scores were calculated based on lifestyle and physiological measures, including diet, physical activity, and biomarkers such as blood glucose and cholesterol levels. Incident cancer cases were monitored through biennial health assessments and verified through multiple data sources until December 31, 2022. Cox proportional hazards models and competing risk models adjusted for confounders like age, sex, and lifestyle factors were used to analyze the impact of LE8 as well as each LE8 component on various cancer types.
Results: During a median follow-up of 14.99 years, 5124 incident cancer cases were identified. Compared to poor LE8 adherence, intermediate and ideal adherence groups showed a 13%(HR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.80–0.96) and 26%(HR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.65–0.85) decrease in overall cancer incidence, respectively. Improvements in LE8 scores were linked to reduced risks of specific cancers: lung (9%), breast (12%), kidney (18%), colorectal (7%), and endometrial (31%), with hazard ratios of 0.91, 0.88, 0.82, 0.93, and 0.69, respectively. Ideal blood pressure and non-smoking were protective against cancer, while ideal body weight increased the risk. Non-smoking reduced lung and kidney cancer risk, while ideal BMI had mixed effects.
Conclusions: Our findings support the LE8 framework as an effective tool for cancer prevention, with higher adherence linked to lower cancer incidence across various types. The results advocate for the integration of LE8 into broader public health and clinical strategies.
Trial Registration: Kailuan study, ChiCTR–TNRC–11001489. Registered August 24, 2011-Retrospectively registered, [http://](http://)[ ](http://)[www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=8050](www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=8050) | | | | Abbreviations: ALT, alanine aminotransferase; BMI, body mass index; CI, confidence intervals; CKD, chronic kidney disease; CPNI, cholesterol-modified prognostic nutritional index; CRP, C-reactive protein; CS, cause-specific hazards; CVD, cardiovascular disease; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; FBG, fasting blood glucose; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; HDL-C, High-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HR,

FAQs

What is the main question of the study regarding Life's Essential 8 (LE8)?

The study evaluates whether adherence to the LE8 framework is associated with cancer incidence overall and for specific cancer sites, and whether individual LE8 components show different effects.

How was cancer risk analyzed in the prospective cohort?

Incident cancer cases were monitored through biennial health assessments and verified via multiple data sources up to December 31, 2022. Cox proportional hazards and competing risk models were used with adjustments for confounders such as age, sex, and lifestyle factors.

What overall association did LE8 adherence show with cancer incidence?

Compared with poor LE8 adherence, intermediate adherence corresponded to a 13% lower risk (HR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.80–0.96), and ideal adherence to a 26% lower risk (HR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.65–0.85) for overall cancer incidence.

Which LE8-related factors were described as protective or risky for specific cancers?

Ideal blood pressure and non-smoking were protective against cancer overall, while ideal body weight increased risk. Non-smoking specifically reduced lung and kidney cancer risk, whereas ideal BMI showed mixed effects.

Sep 22, 2026

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