How comparable are healthy 60- and 80-year-old men?
A critical issue in cross-sectional aging studies is the comparability of subjects of different ages, particularly regarding health status. For example, it is typically assumed that healthy 60-year-old men are equivalent to healthy 80-year-old men when both age groups are selected using the same criteria. The 60-year-old, however, may not survive or be healthy at age 80. To examine this issue, 212 healthy 60-year-old men in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging were identified. By life table analysis, 30% were expected to survive and remain healthy to age 80. In this study, 61 healthy 60-year-old men were followed to age 80. When compared with 125 healthy 80-year-old men, they had more heart disease, cancer, stroke, arterial, digestive, and peripheral nervous system diseases. Twenty-seven of the 61 men (44%) actually continued to be healthy at age 80. At age 60, systolic pressure and total serum cholesterol were predictive of who would be healthy at age 80.
Metter
E J
EJ
National Institute of Aging, Longitudinal Studies Branch, Baltimore.
Walega
D
D
Metter
E L
EL
Pearson
J
J
Brant
L J
LJ
Hiscock
B S
BS
Fozard
J L
JL
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate