title: Better cognitive and physical performance is associated with higher blood pressure in centenarians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Knowledge of rational, evidence based health care in the hundred-year-old is still poor. The aim of the study was to evaluate health and functional state in hundred-year-old inhabitants of Upper Silesia, Poland, with a focus on the heart and vascular function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical and nursing assessment at places of residence was performed in thirty five 100.7±1.4 (mean±SD) year-old subjects, 28 women, and 7 men.
  
  
  METHODS
  The protocol included Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Barthel Index (BI) and laboratory tests. A telephone follow-up was performed 180 days after the initial examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most subjects had increased systolic blood pressure (BP), diminished albumin and folate serum levels as well as decreased Glomerular Filtration Rate. According to the quadratic polynomial regression model MMSE and BI were dependent on BP. Higher BP was associated with better performance and survival. Those who survived more than 180 days had lower levels of CRP and VCAM-1 and higher level of sCD40L.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relationships between functional scales, survival and blood pressure suggest a beneficial effect of elevated BP on both mental and physical performance in centenarians. Further studies should determine an optimal balance between risk and benefits of elevated blood pressure in the oldest old people.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Ńursing, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. jszewieczek@sum.edu.pl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szewieczek
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dulawa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gminski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurek
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Legierska
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Francuz
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Włodarczyk-Sporek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janusz-Jenczen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hornik
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000097:blood; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D007022:Hypotension / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005492:Folic Acid