Nutrition-related cardiovascular risk factors in older people: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
METHODS
In view of the recognized potential benefits of nutritional therapy in older persons, Congress is evaluating the coverage of nutritional services for Medicare beneficiaries.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the number of older persons in the US who have one or more cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, increased low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and diabetes mellitus), for which nutritional therapy is recommended.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of adults, aged > or = 65, participating in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).


RESULTS
The authors estimated the proportion of adults, aged > or = 65, with diabetes mellitus, increased LDL cholesterol, and/or hypertension. Efforts were made to assess whether obesity status, gender, race, and/or socioeconomic factors were associated with the prevalence of any or all three conditions.


RESULTS
Approximately 86% (20 million persons) in the US, aged > or = 65, have at least one of the index conditions. Whereas a higher body mass index (BMI) increased the likelihood of having any or all three conditions, 81% of persons of average body weight (BMI <25 kg/m2) had at least one condition. After adjusting for age, gender, BMI, marital status, and poverty index, blacks were more likely than whites to have any one condition (odds ratio (OR) = 3.0, P < .01) or all three conditions (OR = 2.3, P = .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Almost 90% of Americans aged > or = 65 have one or more nutrition-related cardiovascular risk factors. Improved nutritional interventions may be valuable especially for blacks, who have a higher prevalence of conditions requiring nutritional therapy.
Erlinger
T P
TP
The Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Department of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
Pollack
H
H
Appel
L J
LJ
D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D044469:Racial Groups; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology