Mortality In Middle-aged Adults Research Articles

Carotid Plaques and Hypertension as Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality in Middle-Aged Adults.

Background/Objectives: Both hypertension and carotid atherosclerosis are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. We aim to investigate the synergistic effects of hypertension and carotid plaques on cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Methods: A follow-up study was conducted at the Preventive Cardiology Department of Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos between 2012 and 2021. The study recruited participants aged 40-65 who did not have overt cardiovascular disease (CVD) and were part of the Lithuanian High Cardiovascular Risk primary preventive program. The study collected demographic and clinical data, including an ultrasound assessment of carotid plaque. Results: The participants were monitored for 4-10 years for CVD events and all-cause mortality. Among 6138 participants, 954 (16%) experienced CVD events. The presence of carotid plaque on both sides was significantly associated with CVD events, myocardial infarction, and all-cause mortality. However, the combination of hypertension and carotid plaque did not significantly increase the risk for CVD events or all-cause mortality. Conclusions: The risk of CVD events or all-cause mortality was not significantly increased by the combination of hypertension and carotid plaque. Cardiovascular events depend on the extent of atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries.

0716 Longitudinal Associations of Weekend Catch-up Sleep and Sleep Ability with Mortality in Middle-aged Adults

0716 Longitudinal Associations of Weekend Catch-up Sleep and Sleep Ability with Mortality in Middle-aged Adults

A prospective study of the association of weekend catch-up sleep and sleep duration with mortality in middle-aged adults.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41105-023-00460-6.

Twelve-Year Trajectory of Disease Burden and Mortality by Obesity Level in Korea: Analysis of the National Health Insurance Service Database.

Despite increases in obesity prevalence, awareness of obesity as a disease requiring active treatment remains lacking in Korea. We investigated differences in medical problems and expenditures and mortality across obesity categories using 12-year data from the National Health Insurance Service. Individuals aged 40-79years who underwent medical examinations during 2003-2004 (n = 415,201) were divided based on Asian body mass index (kg/m2) criteria: normal weight (18.5 to < 23.0, 36.4%), overweight (23.0 to < 25.0, 28.3%), obesity (25.0 to < 30.0, 32.5%), and severe obesity (≥ 30.0, 2.8%). Medical problems and expenditures were fitted to linear mixed models. Mortality was analyzed via Cox proportional-hazards model. More severe obesity was associated with a higher rate of medical problems, relative to normal weight: coefficient = 0.31 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30-0.32) for overweight, 0.61 (0.60-0.61) for obesity, and 1.07 (1.04-1.09) for severe obesity. A similar association was observed for medical expenditure: coefficient = 8.85 (95%CI, 6.80-10.89) for overweight, 20.04 (18.07-22.01) for obesity, and 48.76 (43.66-53.86) for severe obesity. Relative to overweight participants, those with normal weight and severe obesity exhibited a higher mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR] 1.21 [95%CI, 1.18-1.25] for normal; 1.27 [1.19-1.36] for severe obesity). In age-specific analyses, mortality risk was the highest for participants with severe obesity, aged < 60years (HR, 1.58 [95%CI, 1.41-1.77]). Disease burden including medical problems and expenditure, and mortality in middle-aged adults, increased proportionally to the degrees of obesity. Health policies and medical systems aimed at reducing the burden of obesity may help reduce the burden of disease on society.

Steps per Day and All-Cause Mortality in Middle-aged Adults in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study

Steps per day is a meaningful metric for physical activity promotion in clinical and population settings. To guide promotion strategies of step goals, it is important to understand the association of steps with clinical end points, including mortality. To estimate the association of steps per day with premature (age 41-65 years) all-cause mortality among Black and White men and women. This prospective cohort study was part of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. Participants were aged 38 to 50 years and wore an accelerometer from 2005 to 2006. Participants were followed for a mean (SD) of 10.8 (0.9) years. Data were analyzed in 2020 and 2021. Daily steps volume, classified as low (<7000 steps/d), moderate (7000-9999 steps/d), and high (≥10 000 steps/d) and stepping intensity, classified as peak 30-minute stepping rate and time spent at 100 steps/min or more. All-cause mortality. A total of 2110 participants from the CARDIA study were included, with a mean (SD) age of 45.2 (3.6) years, 1205 (57.1%) women, 888 (42.1%) Black participants, and a median (interquartile range [IQR]) of 9146 (7307-11 162) steps/d. During 22 845 person years of follow-up, 72 participants (3.4%) died. Using multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, compared with participants in the low step group, there was significantly lower risk of mortality in the moderate (hazard ratio [HR], 0.28 [95% CI, 0.15-0.54]; risk difference [RD], 53 [95% CI, 27-78] events per 1000 people) and high (HR, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.25-0.81]; RD, 41 [95% CI, 15-68] events per 1000 people) step groups. Compared with the low step group, moderate/high step rate was associated with reduced risk of mortality in Black participants (HR, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.14-0.63]) and in White participants (HR, 0.37 [95% CI, 0.17-0.81]). Similarly, compared with the low step group, moderate/high step rate was associated with reduce risk of mortality in women (HR, 0.28 [95% CI, 0.12-0.63]) and men (HR, 0.42 [95% CI, 0.20-0.88]). There was no significant association between peak 30-minute intensity (lowest vs highest tertile: HR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.54-1.77]) or time at 100 steps/min or more (lowest vs highest tertile: HR, 1.38 [95% CI, 0.73-2.61]) with risk of mortality. This cohort study found that among Black and White men and women in middle adulthood, participants who took approximately 7000 steps/d or more experienced lower mortality rates compared with participants taking fewer than 7000 steps/d. There was no association of step intensity with mortality.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 and Incident Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in Middle-Aged Adults.

BackgroundHigher circulating fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) associates with greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in older adults. The association of FGF23 with cardiovascular outcomes in younger populations has been incompletely explored.Methods and ResultsWe measured C‐terminal FGF23 (cFGF23) and intact FGF23 (iFGF23) in 3151 middle‐aged adults (mean age, 45±4) who participated in the year 20 examination of the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) study. We used separate Cox proportional hazards models to examine the associations of cFGF23 and iFGF23 with incident CVD and mortality, adjusting models sequentially for sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory factors. A total of 157 incident CVD events and 135 deaths occurred over a median 7.6 years of follow‐up (interquartile range, 4.1–9.9). In fully adjusted models, there were no statistically significant associations of FGF23 with incident CVD events (hazard ratio per doubling of cFGF23: 1.14, 95%CI 0.97,1.34; iFGF23: 0.76, 95%CI 0.57,1.02) or all‐cause mortality (hazard ratio per doubling of cFGF23, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.00–1.38; iFGF23, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.64–1.17). In analyses stratified by CVD subtypes, higher cFGF23 was associated with greater risk of heart failure hospitalization (hazard ratio per doubling of cFGF23, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.18–1.96) but not coronary heart disease or stroke, whereas iFGF23 was not associated with CVD subtypes in any model.ConclusionsIn middle‐aged adults with few comorbidities, higher cFGF23 and iFGF23 were not independently associated with greater risk of CVD events or death. Higher cFGF23 was independently associated with greater risk of heart failure hospitalization.

Abstract MP54: Increase in the Urban-Rural Divide in Cerebrovascular Mortality Among Middle-Aged Adults From 2013 to 2018

Introduction: Despite observed overall decline cerebrovascular mortality in the United States over the past 2 decades, geographic pockets of increasing cerebrovascular mortality among middle aged adults have been reported on county-level data; and factors driving this regional increase are poorly understood. Methods: We extracted cerebrovascular mortality rates (ICD tenth revision codes I60-I69) in middle aged adults (age 35-64) from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiological Research database from 1999 to 2018. Variations in annual age-adjusted mortality rates, assessed with Joinpoint regression modeling, are expressed as estimated Annual Percentage Change [APC (95% confidence interval)], stratified by urbanization. In regions with increasing stroke mortality, race-ethnicity and gender subgroups were compared. Results: Mid-age cerebrovascular mortality decreased across urbanization strata between 1999 and 2012. Since 2013, stroke mortality has been increasing in Rural counties [APC +1.8% (+1.0% to +2.6%)] and stagnating in Small-to-Medium Metro counties [APC +0.7% (-0.1% to +1.5%)] and Large Metro counties [APC +0.1% (-0.8% to +0.9%)]. Focusing on rural counties, the profound rate difference between non-Hispanic African Americans and non-Hispanic whites decreased between 1999-2012 at Average APC -1.7% (-2.3% to -1.2%) and since then persisted [Average APC -0.2% (-2.1% to 1.8%)]. Both genders were affected. Conclusion: Since 2013, increase in cerebrovascular mortality in middle-aged adults in rural counties contributes to growing urban-rural divide; while the high stroke mortality rate in non-Hispanic African Americans have ceased to converge with non-Hispanic whites. Upstream drivers of stroke mortality in young and middle-aged rural residents and non-Hispanic African Americans should be further elucidated and vigorously targeted by public health initiatives.

Abstract 31: Higher Levels of Light Intensity Physical Activity and Lower Sedentary Time are Associated With a Lower Risk of All-cause Mortality in Older Adults: The Framingham Heart Study

Introduction: Habitual physical activity (PA) and less sedentary behavior have been associated with a lower risk of mortality in middle-aged adults. However, little is known about the associations of objectively-assessed PA of varying levels and sedentary time with mortality in community-dwelling older adults. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that higher overall PA and less sedentary time will be associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality in older adults. Methods: We evaluated 1,262 Framingham Offspring Study participants (mean age 69 yrs, 54% women) with accelerometry-derived PA data (wear time ≥10 hours/day for at least 4 days using an Actical device) at their ninth examination (2011-2014). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to relate PA and sedentary time (separate model for each) with all-cause mortality adjusting for potential confounders. In sensitivity analysis to mitigate the potential impact of frailty on the associations evaluated, we excluded those with frailty at baseline. Results: Overall, 67 participants died during a median follow-up of 4.8 years (25 th -75 th percentiles: 4.3 - 5.3 [years]). Higher total PA, light intensity PA (LIPA), adherence to PA guidelines, and lower sedentary time were associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality ( Table ). The results remained statistically significant even after excluding those with frailty. Higher LIPA and lower sedentary time were associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality regardless of MVPA in both models including all participants and excluding those with frailty. Conclusions: In our investigation of a moderate-size sample of community-dwelling older adults, we confirmed that being physically active substantially lowered mortality risk. Additionally, our findings suggest that reducing sedentary time and increasing LIPA (regardless of MVPA) may be sufficient to reduce mortality risk in older adults. Additional studies of larger multi-ethnic samples of older adults are warranted to confirm our findings.

Association of Medicaid Expansion With Cardiovascular Mortality

Medicaid expansion under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act led to one of the largest gains in health insurance coverage for nonelderly adults in the United States. However, its association with cardiovascular mortality is unclear. To investigate the association of Medicaid expansion with cardiovascular mortality rates in middle-aged adults. This study used a longitudinal, observational design, using a difference-in-differences approach with county-level data from counties in 48 states (excluding Massachusetts and Wisconsin) and Washington, DC, from 2010 to 2016. Adults aged 45 to 64 years were included. Data were analyzed from November 2018 to January 2019. Residence in a Medicaid expansion state. Difference-in-differences of annual, age-adjusted cardiovascular mortality rates from before Medicaid expansion to after expansion. As of 2016, 29 states and Washington, DC, had expanded Medicaid eligibility, while 19 states had not. Compared with counties in Medicaid nonexpansion states, counties in expansion states had a greater decrease in the percentage of uninsured residents at all income levels (mean [SD], 7.3% [3.2%] vs 5.6% [2.7%]; P < .001) and in low income strata (19.8% [5.5%] vs 13.5% [3.9%]; P < .001) between 2010 and 2016. Counties in expansion states had a smaller change in cardiovascular mortality rates after expansion (146.5 [95% CI, 132.4-160.7] to 146.4 [95% CI, 131.9-161.0] deaths per 100 000 residents per year) than counties in nonexpansion states did (176.3 [95% CI, 154.2-198.5] to 180.9 [95% CI, 158.0-203.8] deaths per 100 000 residents per year). After accounting for demographic, clinical, and economic differences, counties in expansion states had 4.3 (95% CI, 1.8-6.9) fewer deaths per 100 000 residents per year from cardiovascular causes after Medicaid expansion than if they had followed the same trends as counties in nonexpansion states. Counties in states that expanded Medicaid had a significantly smaller increase in cardiovascular mortality rates among middle-aged adults after expansion compared with counties in states that did not expand Medicaid. These findings suggest that recent Medicaid expansion was associated with lower cardiovascular mortality in middle-aged adults and may be of consideration as further expansion of Medicaid is debated.

1451-P: The Association of Metformin with Mortality in Frail Older Veterans with Diabetes

Diabetes (DM) is associated with an accelerated aging that promotes frailty, a state of vulnerability to stressors resulting in higher morbidity, mortality and healthcare utilization. Data from the UKPDS showed that metformin may lead to lower risk of overall mortality in middle aged adults with type 2 DM (T2D) but the evidence is less clear in frail older adults. The aim of this study was to determine whether metformin is associated with reduced mortality in frail older Veterans. This is a retrospective cohort study of 393 Veterans 65 years and older with DM, who were identified as frail through calculation of a 44-item frailty index (FI≥.21) on January 2016-August 2017 and followed until October 2018. The FI was constructed as a proportion of all potential variables (demographics, comorbidities, medications, laboratory tests, and ADLs) at the time of the screening. At the end of follow-up, we aggregated data on mortality of those Veterans with frailty and compared those who were taking metformin (n=164, 41.7%) versus those who were not taking that medication (n=229, 58.3%). After adjusting for age, race, ethnicity, BMI, DM complications, level of glycemic control, use of insulin or sulfonylureas and comorbidities, the association of metformin with mortality was determined using a multivariate Cox regression model. Patients were 56.3% white, 76.9% non-Hispanic, 98.7% male, mean age was 73.14 (SD=7.31) years. Over a median follow-up period of 593 days (IQR=179), 62 deaths occurred (n=15, in those taking metformin vs. n=47 in those not taking it). After adjusting for covariates, frail Veterans taking metformin had a lower risk for mortality, adjusted hazard ratio (HR) .466 (95% CI: .255-.849), p=.013 than those not taking the drug. These results suggest that metformin may reduce all-cause mortality in frail older adults with diabetes. Further studies may be needed to assess the impact of metformin on quality of life and potential benefits on specific morbidity and mortality in this high-risk population. Disclosure R. Milyani: None. R. Aparicio-Ugarriza: None. J. Ferri Guerra: None. D. Salguero: None. Y. Mohammed: None. W. Valencia: None. H. Florez: None. J.G. Ruiz: None. Funding Miami VA Healthcare System Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center

Cruciferous vegetable intake and mortality in middle-aged adults: A prospective cohort study

Cruciferous vegetables contain isothiocyanates, which effectively reduce inflammation and oxidative stress related to chronic diseases, inhibit the bioactivation of procarcinogens, and enhance the excretion of carcinogens. However, at present, no large cohort studies have investigated the effect of cruciferous vegetable on mortality. We aimed to examine the association between cruciferous vegetable intake and all-cause mortality, namely cancer, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and injuries, in a large cohort study conducted between 1990 and 1993, in Japan. The analysis included 88,184 participants (age: 45-74 years) with no history of cancer, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Participants were tracked for a median of 16.9 years, during which 15,349 deaths were occurred. The association between cruciferous vegetable intake and risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality was determined by Cox proportional hazard regression analysis to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), after adjustment for potential confounding factors. An inverse association was found between cruciferous vegetable intake and total mortality in both gender. HRs (95% CI) for all-cause mortality in the highest compared to the lowest quintile were 0.86 (0.80, 0.93) for men (P=0.0002 for trend) and 0.89 (0.81, 0.98) for women (P=0.03 for trend). Cruciferous vegetable intake was associated with lower cancer mortality in men, as well as with heart disease-, cerebrovascular disease-, and injury-related mortality in women. This prospective study suggests that a higher cruciferous vegetables intake is associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality.

Church attendance, allostatic load and mortality in middle aged adults.

ImportanceReligiosity has been associated with positive health outcomes. Hypothesized pathways for this association include religious practices, such as church attendance, that result in reduced stress.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the relationship between religiosity (church attendance), allostatic load (AL) (a physiologic measure of stress) and all-cause mortality in middle-aged adults.Design, setting and participantsData for this study are from NHANES III (1988–1994). The analytic sample (n = 5449) was restricted to adult participants, who were between 40–65 years of age at the time of interview, had values for at least 9 out of 10 clinical/biologic markers used to derive AL, and had complete information on church attendance.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcomes were AL and mortality. AL was derived from values for metabolic, cardiovascular, and nutritional/inflammatory clinical/biologic markers. Mortality was derived from a probabilistic algorithm matching the NHANES III Linked Mortality File to the National Death Index through December 31, 2006, providing up to 18 years follow-up. The primary predictor variable was baseline report of church attendance over the past 12 months. Cox proportional hazard logistic regression models contained key covariates including socioeconomic status, self-rated health, co-morbid medical conditions, social support, healthy eating, physical activity, and alcohol intake.ResultsChurchgoers (at least once a year) comprised 64.0% of the study cohort (n = 3782). Non-churchgoers had significantly higher overall mean AL scores and higher prevalence of high-risk values for 3 of the 10 markers of AL than did churchgoers. In bivariate analyses non-churchgoers, compared to churchgoers, had higher odds of an AL score 2–3 (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.01, 1.50) or ≥4 (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.11, 1.71) compared to AL score of 0–1. More frequent churchgoers (more than once a week) had a 55% reduction of all-cause mortality risk compared with non-churchgoers. (HR 0.45, CI 0.24–0.85) in the fully adjusted model that included AL.Conclusions and relevanceWe found a significant association between church attendance and mortality among middle-aged adults after full adjustments. AL, a measure of stress, only partially explained differences in mortality between church and non-church attendees. These findings suggest a potential independent effect of church attendance on mortality.

Low ALT blood levels predict long-term all-cause mortality among adults. A historical prospective cohort study

BackgroundIncreased blood levels of alanine amino transferase (ALT, also known as SGPT; serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase) serve as a marker of liver injury by various mechanisms. Less is known about the clinical implications associated with low-normal ALT levels. Previous studies showed low ALT levels to be associated with poor long-term outcomes among elderlies, serving as a biomarker for increased incidence of frailty and subsequent risk of mortality. However, it has not been determined yet whether low-normal ALT values might be predictive of frailty and mortality in younger, middle-aged adults. MethodsWe conducted a historical prospective cohort analysis. ResultsA total of 23,506 adults with ALT levels within the normal range, at the mean age of 48±11years, participating in an annual screening program for preventive medicine, were followed-up for a median period of 8.5years during which 638 died. Low-normal ALT values (serum ALT activity <17IU/L) were found to be predictive for increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR=1.6; 95% CI 1.34–1.92; p<0.001). Statistically significant correlation was demonstrated even after applying a multifactorial model correction for age, gender, eGFR, low albumin, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease. ConclusionsWe suggest that low-normal ALT values may serve as an independent predictive marker for increased long-term mortality in middle-aged adults.

Dietary indices, cardiovascular risk factors and mortality in middle-aged adults: findings from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study

PurposeWe examined the association between three predefined dietary indices and both cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and long-term mortality in adult Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study’s participants. MethodsBetween 1987 and 1999, 12,449 (77% male) participants aged 20–84 years completed a clinical examination, which included dietary assessment by 3-day diet records. Three dietary indices were calculated: the Ideal Diet Index, the Diet Quality Index, and the Mediterranean Diet Score. CVD risk factors measurements included body mass index, total cholesterol, fasting glucose, blood pressure, and cardiorespiratory fitness. We calculated hazard ratios from Cox regression analyses, adjusting for potential confounders including physical fitness. ResultsHigher Ideal Diet Index, Diet Quality Index, and Mediterranean Diet Score scores were consistently associated with lower body mass index, cholesterol and glucose levels, and diastolic blood pressure, and higher cardiorespiratory fitness (all P < .05). However, after adjusting for age, sex, energy intake, and baseline examination year, the indices were not significantly related to all-cause, CVD, or cancer mortality. No association was observed in fully adjusted models, which controlled for fitness. ConclusionsAlthough these dietary indices based on 3-day diet records are strongly associated cross-sectionally to CVD risk profile of middle-aged men and women, they do not add to ability to predict long-term mortality in follow-up.

Natural History of the Early Repolarization Pattern in a Biracial Cohort

The objective of this analysis was to determine the natural history and prospective association of cardiovascular risk factors with early repolarization (ER). ER is common and has been suggested to increase risk for cardiovascular mortality in middle-aged adults. Data are sparse regarding the natural history of ER from young adulthood to middle age. We examined 5,069 participants (mean age 25 years at baseline; 40% black) from the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) cohort over 20 years. Electrocardiograms were recorded at years 0 (Y0), 7 (Y7), and 20 (Y20) and coded as either definite, probable, possible, or no ER. Logistic regression was used to determine the association of cardiovascular risk factors with the presence of ER cross-sectionally and prospectively. A total of 941 of the 5,069 participants (18.6%) had definite ER at baseline, and only 119 of 2,505 participants (4.8%) at the Y20 examination still demonstrated the presence of ER. Younger age, black race, male sex, longer exercise duration and QRS duration, and lower body mass index (BMI), heart rate, QT index, and Cornell voltage were associated cross-sectionally with the presence of ER. Predictors of maintenance of ER from Y0 to Y20 were black race (odds ratio [OR]: 2.62; 95% CI; 1.61 to 4.25), BMI (OR: 0.62 per 1 SD; 95% CI: 0.40 to 0.94), serum triglyceride levels (OR: 0.66 per 1 SD; 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.98), and QRS duration (OR: 1.68 per 1 SD; 95% CI: 1.37 to 2.06) at baseline. The prevalence of ER was significantly higher than previous estimates among asymptomatic young adults, and the majority of ER regressed by middle age. Black race, lower BMI, lower serum triglyceride levels, and longer QRS duration were independently associated with maintenance of ER over time.

The Mediterranean Diet Is Associated with a Reduction in Premature Mortality among Middle-Aged Adults1–3

AbstractThe available large prospective studies supporting an inverse association between better adherence to the Mediterranean diet and lower mortality have mainly included older adults. It is not clear whether this inverse association is also present among younger individuals at lower mortality risk. Our aim was to assess the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and total mortality in middle-aged adults from the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) Project.We followed 15,535 Spanish university graduates for a mean of 6.8 y. Their mean age was 38 ± 12 y, 59.6% were females, and all were initially free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. A validated FFQ was used to assessdietary habits. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was categorized into 3 groups according to the Mediterranean Diet Score (low, 0–2 points; moderate, 3–5 points; and high, 6–9 points). The outcome variable was total mortality. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate HR and 95% CI. We adjusted the estimates for sex, age, years of university education, BMI, smoking, physical activity, television watching, history of depression and baseline hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. We observed 125 deaths during 105,980 person-years of follow-up. The fully adjusted HR for moderate and high adherence were 0.58 (95% CI: 0.34, 0.99; P = 0.05) and 0.38 (95% CI: 0.21, 0.70; P = 0.002),respectively. For each 2-point increment in the Mediterranean Diet Score, the HR of death was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.58, 0.91;P = 0.006). Among highly educated, middle-aged adults, adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet was associated with reduced risk of death.

Physical activity and all-cause mortality in older women and men

BackgroundRegular physical activity is associated with reduced risk of mortality in middle-aged adults; however, associations between physical activity and mortality in older people have been less well studied. The objective...

Initiation of Statin Therapy: Are There Age Limits?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death, with a higher prevalence in older adults who form an increasing proportion of the population of the United States. Statin treatment reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in middle-aged adults. However, few studies have included older individuals, particularly ages 80years or older. We review recent publications regarding primary and secondary prevention of CVD with statin therapy in older adults. Risk scores and their limitations in this population are discussed. The association of adverse effects with intensive doses of statin and their interactions with other drugs may be more problematic in older adults. Statin therapy appears cost-effective for individuals with higher CVD risk but this is dependent on the assumptions used. Evidence remains limited regarding the overall benefit of starting statin therapy in adults ages 80years and older; thus, clinical judgment remains necessary in making this decision.

Orthostatic Hypotension and Cardiovascular Risk

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) results from a failure of neural and circulatory mechanisms to compensate for the reduction in venous return that normally occurs on assuming the upright posture. OH is defined as a fall in systolic blood pressure of ≥20 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure of ≥10 mm Hg measured within 3 minutes of standing.1 OH can result from side effects of medications, intravascular volume loss, systemic diseases that involve autonomic nerves (eg, diabetes mellitus or amyloidosis), and, in rare cases, it can be the initial sign of a primary autonomic failure syndrome (multiple system atrophy, pure autonomic failure, and Parkinson’s disease). Severe OH can be a dramatic medical condition, with affected patients unable to stand but for few seconds before disabling symptoms of cerebral hypoperfusion and syncope ensue. Asymptomatic OH is a far more common condition, but one that is often unrecognized. It is a frequent finding in the elderly, with prevalence reported between 6% and 35% or more, depending on the age group and associated comorbidities.2,3 During the past 2 decades, evidence from cross-sectional and longitudinal epidemiological studies has identified OH as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality.4 In prospective studies, the presence of OH at baseline increased the risk of subsequent adverse outcomes, including stroke,5 coronary heart disease,6 and all-cause mortality.2,4,7,8 In this …

Effects of depressive symptoms and coronary heart disease and their interactive associations on mortality in middle-aged adults: the Whitehall II cohort study

BackgroundDepression and mortality have been studied separately in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and in populations healthy at study inception. This does not allow comparisons across risk-factor groups based...