Role of modifiable risk factors in life expectancy in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of 'modifiable' risk factors, assessed between the ages of 60 and 70 years, in late survival.


METHODS
The study population included subjects aged 60-70 years, who had a standard health examination at the IPC Center, and who could potentially reach the age of 80 years for men and 85 years for women at the end of the follow-up period.


METHODS
The role of 'modifiable' risk factors was assessed by comparing subjects who died before the age of 80 years for men (n=1333) and before 85 years for women (n=543) to subjects who survived beyond these ages (3681 men, 1910 women). Multivariate analyses were conducted to determine which parameters were independently associated with survival to an advanced age.


RESULTS
The multivariate analysis showed a decreased probability of late survival with higher pulse pressure (P<0.0001), higher heart rate (P<0.002), higher glycemia (P<0.0034), and an increased probability with regular physical activity (P<0.0001). A significant interaction between heart rate and gender (P<0.01) was observed, indicating that heart rate was a predictor of late survival in men but not in women. Body mass index, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and diastolic blood pressure and tobacco smoking were not associated with late survival in this population.


CONCLUSIONS
A systematic search for certain risk factors in an elderly patient can have a significant impact on late survival and can lead to the establishment of priority goals, such as increasing physical activity and reducing blood pressure, heart rate and glycemia.
Benetos
Athanase
A
Centre d'Investigations Préventives et Cliniques (IPC), Paris, and Department of Geriatrics, Medical School of Nancy, Nancy, France. benetos@ipc.asso.fr
Thomas
Frédérique
F
Bean
Kathryn E
KE
Pannier
Bruno
B
Guize
Louis
L
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
D002784:Cholesterol