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Healthy Lifestyle DHQ

Overview

DHQ healthy lifestyle score ranges from 0 to 7 points. A higher score reflects greater adherence to the 2018 WCRF/AICR Cancer Prevention recommendations, which are outlined in Table 2 of the following publication: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6682977/.

The DHQ healthy lifestyle score (hl_score_dhq) is the sum of 7 components. The table below describes how points are assigned for each component and provides the variable names of the components. The source of the data (i.e., the questionnaire) is also listed:

Note: PLCO does not have waist circumference data so the “healthy weight” component only accounts for BMI. Also note that PLCO does not have breastfeeding data, so the optional eight component is not included in the DHQ healthy lifestyle score.
Component Points Variable Name Source
BMI (kg/m2)
  • 0 points: <18.5 or >= 30
  • 0.5 points: 25-29.9
  • 1 point: 18.5-24.9
 bmi_points_dhq Supplemental Questionnaire (SQX) if available; else Baseline Questionnaire (BQ)
Total moderate-vigorous physical activity (min/wk)
  • 0 points: <75
  • 0.5 points: 75-<150
  • 1 point: >=150
 activity_points_dhq Supplemental Questionnaire (SQX)
Fruits and vegetables; fiber. Fruits and vegetables (g/day):
  • 0 points: <200
  • 0.25 points: 200-<400
  • 0.5 points: >=400
Total fiber (g/day):
  • 0 points: <15
  • 0.25 points: 15-<30
  • 0.5 points >=30
 fruitveg_fiber_points_dhq Sub-components:
  • fruitveg_points_dhq
  • fiber_points_dhq
 Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ)
Percent of total kcal from ultra-processed foods
  • 0 points: Tertile 3
  • 0.5 points: Tertile 2
  • 1 point: Tertile 1
 upf_points_dhq Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ)
Total red meat (g/wk) and processed meat (g/wk)
  • 0 points: Red meat > 500 or processed meat >= 100
  • 0.5 points: Red meat <= 500 and processed meat 21-<100
  • 1 point: Red meat <= 500 and processed meat < 21
 meat_points_dqx Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ)
Total sugar sweetened drinks (g/day)
  • 0 points: >250
  • 0.5 points: >0-<=250
  • 1 point: 0
 ssd_points_dhq Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ)
Total ethanol (g/day)
  • 0 points: >28 (2 drinks) males and >14 (1 drink) females
  • 0.5 points: >0 - <=28 (2 drinks) males and <=14 (1 drink) females
  • 1 point: 0
 alc_points_dhq Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ)

DHQ Healthy Lifestyle data can be obtained from the DHQ Healthy Lifestyle Dataset.