title: The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among centenarians is low: risk factors in centenarians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The presence of major cardiovascular risk factors was investigated in a group of centenarians.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following risk factors: sex, smoking, overweight, diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were analysed in 93 centenarians and compared with data obtained from 90 individuals age 40-60 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smoking, overweight and hypercholesterolemia were found statistically more often in a younger population, whereas hypertension was diagnosed more frequently in centenarians. No or one risk factor were found in 55.4% of centenarians and in 14.2% of younger subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Centenarians are characterized by a much better cardiovascular risk profile than middle-aged individuals. This indicates that longevity is related to low cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zyczkowska
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klich-Raczka
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wizner
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mossakowska
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wieczorowska-Tobis
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grodzicki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology