[Cardiovascular mortality predictors in the oldest old]

This article investigates the association between cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the oldest old. In 1996, 91% of the population > or = 80 years of age from Veranópolis, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, were evaluated to detect cardiovascular risk factors and morbidity. The sample was followed up for three years, with the assessment of deaths. The analysis was done using univariate statistics and multivariate logistic regression analysis. There were 41 deaths (21%): 20 men and 21 women. Deaths were distributed by year as follow: 03 (7.3%) in the first year, 08 (19.5%) in the second, and 30 (73.2%) in the third. There was a significant and independent association between death and the following variables: diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, ApoA-I, prior stroke (CVA), right bundle branch block (RBBB), and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by ECG. Survivors presented higher levels of DBP, TC, LDL-C, ApoA-I, CVA, RBBB and LVH. According to the multivariate analysis, the variables were independent risk factors for mortality. Cardiovascular risk factors appear to have a distinct impact on the oldest old.