ACROSS surveys, stress, obesity, and physical inactivity were the Health Risks consistently linked to chronic conditions.
A Nationwide Look at Health Risks
Researchers analyzed 56,988 Danish residents aged >16 years, combining national health survey data from 2010 and 2013 with sociodemographic registers and national health registers. Using linear and logistic regression models adjusted for socioeconomic variables, the team examined how eight Health Risks related to 14 disease groups and 30 common chronic conditions.
The eight Health Risks included stress, loneliness, sleep troubles, obesity or BMI, smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption, and fruit intake. The goal was to identify patterns that could help clinicians and public health stakeholders understand which risks most consistently align with chronic disease burden.
Health Risks Most Strongly Linked to Chronic Conditions
Across conditions, stress, obesity, and physical inactivity emerged as the most consistently associated Health Risks. The analysis also suggested three broad clusters with similar strengths of association.
One cluster, comprising obesity, stress, and sleep troubles, showed the widest reach, with significant links across a large proportion of the chronic conditions analyzed. A second cluster, physical inactivity and loneliness, demonstrated more moderate associations and appeared especially relevant in mental health conditions. A third cluster, including smoking, drinking, and low fruit intake, showed the weakest and fewest associations overall.
In descriptive profiling, several conditions stood out for having high proportions of patients experiencing more than four Health Risks at once, including anxiety, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, headaches, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Why These Patterns Matter
The authors conclude that this hierarchy of associations, adjusted for socioeconomic factors, may help shift how Health Risks are prioritized across chronic disease strategies. Their findings suggest that while classic behavioral risks remain important, psychological and social factors, including stress, sleep problems, and loneliness, may warrant greater attention when addressing chronic conditions at scale.
Reference: Hvidberg MF et al. How eight health risks and chronic conditions relate: identifying associations and profiling characteristics of multiple health risk factors among 14 disease groups and 30 common chronic conditions in Denmark. Scand J Public Health. 2026;doi:10.1177/14034948251404093.
