Relative genealogic incidence of certain "civilization diseases" in a geriatric population versus pregeriatric groups

In a prevalence epidemiologic study conducted in a characteristic submontane area in North Bohemia, the genealogic incidence of myocardial infarction, sudden brain vascular episodes, and malignant tumors was studied in a representative sample of persons aged 70 to 105 years. The incidence was then compared with that in two other samples: 1) men under age 40 with a history of transmural myocardial infarction, and 2) both men and women aged 40--60 who had a stroke. The statistical evaluation was performed according to accepted international criteria (WHO). A significantly lower genealogic incidence of myocardial infarction and sudden brain vascular episodes was found in the geriatric subjects (70--105 years old) who had symptoms of so-called physiologic aging, as compared with the incidence in the younger subjects who had symptoms of so-called pathologic aging. The difference was less clear-cut with respect to the genealogic incidence of malignant tumors.