[Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in the elderly; the ERGO study (Erasmus Rotterdam Health and the Elderly)].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease among elderly people.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
A district of Rotterdam, the Netherlands.


METHODS
As a part of the Rotterdam Study information about smoking habits, blood pressure, Quetelet index and serum cholesterol of 7,983 responding persons (78%) (3,105 men and 4,878 women) of 55 years and older was obtained by an interview and physical examination during two visits to a research center.


RESULTS
Among men and women there were 29.7% and 16.7% smokers and 60.1% and 25.9% ex-smokers, respectively. Among men the proportion of smokers decreased from 31.0% in the age category 55-59 years to 15.9% in de category > or = 85 years, among women from 28.0% to 2.7%. Systolic blood pressure increased with age in both sexes, while diastolic blood pressure hardly changed. Hypertension (systolic blood pressure 160 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure > or = 95 mmHg at a single measurement and/or use of antihypertensive drugs) occurred in 23.3% of men and 28.0% of women. In men, total serum cholesterol decreased gradually with age, whereas in women there was a slight increase up to the category 70-74 years. No evident change in HDL cholesterol with increasing age was observed in men, but in women a decrease was observed until the same level was reached as in men. Thirty-five per cent of men and 49.5% of women had an elevated level of serum cholesterol (> or = 6.5 mmol/l). The prevalence of obesity (Quetelet index > 25 kg/m2) was about 50% in both men and women but was less in the categories from 75 years onwards. Approximately 80% of men and women had at least one risk factor, while in almost half of them two or more risk factors were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease are common among elderly people.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology
D002784:Cholesterol
Risicofactoren voor hart- en vaatziekten bij ouderen; het ERGO-onderzoek.