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Cholesterol as a risk factor for coronary heart disease in elderly men. The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
J D Sorkin1, R Andres, D C Muller
1Laboratory of Clinical Physiology, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224.
Insights
High cholesterol is a significant risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) in older men across all age groups studied. This risk is linear in the oldest men (75-97 years), confirming hypercholesterolemia
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains a leading cause of mortality in aging populations.
- The role of cholesterol as a risk factor for CHD has been established, but its impact in very old age requires further investigation.
- The Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging provides a unique cohort for examining age-related health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cholesterol levels and the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in older men.
- To determine if the association between cholesterol and CHD risk differs across distinct age strata in older men.
- To extend the evidence base for hypercholesterolemia as a risk factor for CHD up to the age of 97.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 1052 men from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging was analyzed.
- Participants were stratified into three age groups: 28-64, 65-74, and 75-97 years.
- Statistical analysis was performed to assess the relationship between cholesterol levels and CHD events (angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, sudden coronary death).
Main Results:
- Cholesterol was identified as a significant risk factor for CHD across all three age groups.
- In the oldest age group (75-97 years), the relationship between cholesterol and CHD risk was linear (P = .003).
- In younger age groups, the cholesterol-CHD risk relationship was observed to be exponential.
Conclusions:
- Hypercholesterolemia is a significant risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) in men aged 75 to 97 years.
- The linear association in the oldest men suggests a consistent impact of cholesterol on CHD risk throughout later life.
- This study confirms and extends the understanding of cholesterol's role in cardiovascular health in advanced age.
Abstract:
In order to explore the relationship of cholesterol to coronary heart disease (CHD), defined as angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and sudden coronary death, in older men, a group of 1052 men, participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging, were examined. Subjects were stratified into three age groups, 28 to 64, 65 to 74, and 75 to 97 years old. In all three age groups, cholesterol was a significant risk factor for CHD. In the oldest age group (n = 250), the relationship between cholesterol and risk was linear (P = .003) as opposed to younger age groups where the relationship was exponential. This study extends the age range in which hypercholesterolemia has been shown to be associated with CHD to include the 75- to 97-year range.