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Cardiovascular Health in Individuals with Exceptional Longevity Residing in Arkansas
Brandi M Mize1, Brandon Duke1, Amanda K Pangle1
1UAMS, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Insights
This study examined heart health in individuals 90 and older, finding a high prevalence of heart failure indicators and elevated blood pressure, despite fewer metabolic issues. Further research into longevity factors is warranted.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiology
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease is a significant comorbidity in aging populations.
- Investigating the health profiles of the oldest individuals (centenarians and supercentenarians) offers insights into exceptional longevity.
- Understanding cardiac and metabolic status in the very old is crucial for public health and personalized medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the prevalence of heart failure and metabolic derangements in individuals aged 90 years or older in central Arkansas.
- To identify cardiac and metabolic health parameters in a unique, age-defying population.
- To establish a foundation for investigating factors contributing to extreme longevity with comorbidities.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of patients aged 90 years and older.
- Analysis of cardiac parameters including blood pressure, pulse pressure, and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels.
- Assessment of metabolic health markers and electrocardiogram (EKG) findings, including atrial fibrillation.
Main Results:
- A majority of patients (50%) had systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg, and 77% had pulse pressure ≥50 mmHg.
- 44% of patients with available data had elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels (≥300 pg/mL), indicating potential heart failure.
- While atrial fibrillation was common, documented metabolic derangements were less prevalent in this cohort.
Conclusions:
- Individuals aged 90 and older frequently exhibit signs of heart failure and hypertension.
- Despite comorbidities, this 'oldest-old' group may possess protective factors against metabolic disorders.
- Further research into genetic and lifestyle factors is needed to understand their exceptional longevity.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease is a common comorbidity associated with an aging population. However, there is a unique group of individuals whose age-defying qualities are still being investigated. This retrospective chart review analyzed various cardiac and metabolic health parameters to characterize the prevalence of heart failure and metabolic derangements in individuals aged 90 years old or older in central Arkansas. Only 236 of the 291 patients in our study cohort had blood pressures recorded. Of these, 50% had systolic blood pressures ≥140 mmHg. Additionally, 77% had pulse pressures ≥50 mmHg. Of the 96 patients with BNP data, 44% had values ≥300 pg/mL. There was a slight positive correlation between aging and HDL cholesterol, while there was a negative correlation between aging and both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. A majority of our patients had both elevated systolic blood pressures and elevated pulse pressures. A majority also had high BNP values, indicative of some degree of heart failure. Additionally, atrial fibrillation was a common arrhythmia identified on EKG. However, these oldest of the old patients had fewer documented metabolic derangements. These findings lay important groundwork for further investigation into lifestyle and genetic components that allow them to live exceptionally long with such comorbidities.
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