[Cardiovascular findings in patients over 100]

General (1) and specific (2) behaviour of the cardiovascular system were investigated in 575 persons with a documented age of over 100 years. In 118 over-100-year-olds the arterial blood pressure was within normal limits. Extremely old age is compatible with a variety of disturbances of cardiac impulse formation and propagation. This does not include malignant third-degree atrioventricular block. The pattern of serum lipoproteins was studied in 20 long-lived persons and showed a favourable atheromatous index. The width of the abdominal aorta was determined by ultrasound and was close to the value found in 60-year-olds. Specific cardiovascular findings clearly depend on the vitality of the over-100-year-olds. Fully active centenarians (group I, n = 169), despite cardiological polypathy, have a well compensated cardiovascular system. Three coronary angiograms performed post mortem showed coronary sclerosis in all cases but only moderate coronary stenosis. Approximately 50% of the centenarians belonging in group II, i.e., those not so active or even slightly disabled (n = 275) and all members of group III (bedridden, n = 131) show latent or manifest cardiac decompensation.