title: Inflammatory markers and cardiovascular health in older adults.
abstract: In the past decade inflammatory markers have emerged as strong independent risk indicators for cardiovascular disease. Even though adults over the age of 65 experience a high proportion of such events, most epidemiologic data are from middle-aged populations. In this review we examine the role that inflammatory markers play in the prediction of incident cardiovascular disease specifically in older adults. In studies of adults < 65 years, IL-6, TNFalpha and IL-10 levels have been shown to predict cardiovascular outcomes. The data on C-reactive protein are inconsistent, but CRP levels appear to be less useful in old-age than in middle-age. Fibrinogen levels predict mortality but in a non-specific manner. In the elderly inflammatory markers are non-specific measures of health and predict both disability and mortality even in the absence of clinical cardiovascular disease. Thus it is possible that, in older age-groups, interventions designed to prevent cardiovascular disease through the modulation of inflammation would also be helpful in reducing disability and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Sticht Center on Aging, Section of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA. skritche@wfubmc.edu
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kritchevsky
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cesari
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pahor
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D002097:C-Reactive Protein