The protective effect of a small amount of fish on coronary heart disease mortality in an elderly population.
BACKGROUND
A protective effect of a small amount of fish on coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality has been established in observational studies in middle-aged people. In the present study this association was investigated in the elderly.


METHODS
In 1971 CHD risk factors were measured in 272 people born before 1907. They belonged to a general practice in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and were followed for 17 years. The cross-check dietary history method was used to obtain information on fish consumption.


RESULTS
During the follow-up period 58 people died from CHD, 67 from cancer and 187 from all causes. In 1971 about 60% of the elderly ate fish and 40% did not eat fish. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses, taking the confounding effect of major risk factors into account, showed an inverse relation between fish consumption and 17-year CHD mortality. The risk ratio (RR) for fish eaters compared with no-fish eaters was significantly different from unity (RR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.29-0.89). Cancer and total mortality were not related to fish consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
The results from the present study suggest that the protective effect of a small amount of fish in relation to CHD observed in middle-aged people seems also to be present in the elderly.
Kromhout
D
D
Division of Public Health Research, National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Feskens
E J
EJ
Bowles
C H
CH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3