Multiple risk factors: introduction

Research into disease and its causes is often limited to single risk factors for single diseases, eg smoking and heart disease. However risk factors often occur together in individuals, eg someone who smokes may also drink too much and take too little exercise.  The associated risk may be greater than expected due to a multiplying effect.

In addition, for people with more than one risk factor, addressing more than one at a time may be more effective and efficient than addressing them sequentially. It may be possible to bring about a wholesale change in outlook and lifestyle.  Here we consider seven major risk factors in combination, and the associated increased risk of death, disease and health problems. The risk factors considered are listed below and are covered individually in detail in other sections of the website:

Behavioural risk factors (see Behaviour)

• smoking (see tobacco use section for more detail) 
• diet (see diet and nutrition)
• alcohol use (see alcohol use)
• physical inactivity (physical inactivity)

Clinical risk factors (see Clinical Risk Factors)

• obesity (see obesity)
• high blood pressure (see high blood pressure)
• high cholesterol (see high cholesterol)

The number of possible combinations of risk factors is 2 to the power 7 = 128.