Search

The article provides information on a study which determined whether baseline electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities or development of new and persistent ECG abnormalities are associated with increased coronary heart disease (CHD) events. The population-based study enrolled 2,192 white and African American older adults aged 70 to 79 years from health, Aging and Body Composition Study without known cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study then assessed incident CHD events among participants without preexisting CVD at baseline.

The article discusses the effect of Cystatin C on successful aging. A study was conducted to determine the relation between kidney function and aging success for a six-year follow-upcardiovascular health study in the United States. The level of Cystatin C of the Two thousand one hundred forty participants have been observed. The result of the study showed that even if the patient possess a relatively normal kidney function, the presence of cystatin C in a higher level, the greater unsuccessful aging it entails.

The article presents a study which examined the association of aerobic fitness in older people with several factors including mortality, cardiovascular disease, mobility limitation, and disability. The study, called the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study, selected a group of people between the ages of 70 and 79 and assessed their performance as they walked 400 meters in a corridor. The methods by which the participants were selected is described. A chart listing those who were excluded from the corridor walk and why is presented. Another chart lists the characteristics of the participants. Other charts list event rates and hazard ratios as well as cardiovascular response for the participants. Eight graphs depict percentages of mortality, incident cardiovascular disease, mobility limitation, and mobility disability in men and women.

Background Oxidative damage plays an important role in leading to major health-related events. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of a lipoprotein peroxidation marker, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) for incident mobility limitation (ML). Methods Data are from 2985 well-functioning elders enrolled in the Health ABC study (median follow-up, 4.1 years). All oxLDL levels were measured at the baseline assessment. The oxLDL/LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) ratio (log value) was used as a measure of lipoprotein peroxidation. Mobility limitation was defined by 2 consecutive semiannual reports of any difficulty either walking 1/4 mile or climbing up 10 steps without resting. Severe ML was defined by 2 consecutive reports of great difficulty or inability to do the same tasks. Cox proportional hazards models were performed to assess hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results The mean (SD) age of the sample was 74.2 (2.9) years. After adjustment for potential confounders (sociodemographic factors, smoking, physical activity, body mass index, clinical conditions, biological markers, and medications), the relationship between the oxLDL/LDL-C ratio and disability events was statistically significant (per log-unit difference in the oxLDL/LDL-C ratio) (for ML: HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.06-1.41; for severe ML: HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.15-1.79). Consistent results were found when interleukin 6 level was included as a covariate in the adjusted models (ML: HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.98-1.31; severe ML: HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.05-1.64). No significant sex, race, interleukin 6 level, or clinical conditions interaction was found with the oxLDL/LDL-C ratio and mobility disability. Conclusions Lipoprotein peroxidation predicts the onset of ML in older persons. The oxLDL predictive value for ML is partly explained by interleukin 6 levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Physical performance in response to exercise appears to be influenced by the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion (I)/deletion (D) genotype in young adults, but whether this relationship could help explain variation in older individuals’ response to exercise has not been well studied. Objective To determine whether the ACE genotype interacts with significant physical activity to affect the incidence of mobility limitation in well-functioning older adults. Design, Setting, and Participants The Health Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Cohort Study, conducted in the metropolitan areas of Memphis, Tenn, and Pittsburgh, Pa. A total of 3075 well-functioning community-dwelling adults aged 70 through 79 years were enrolled from 1997 to 1998 and had a mean of 4.1 years of follow-up. Main Outcome Measure Incident mobility limitation defined as the report of difficulty walking a quarter of a mile (0.4 km) or walking up 10 steps on 2 consecutive semiannual interviews (n = 1204). Results Physically active participants (those reporting expending ≥1000 kcal/wk in exercise, walking, and stair climbing) were less likely to develop mobility limitation regardless of genotype. However, activity level interacted significantly with the ACE genotype (P = .002). In the inactive group, the ACE genotype was not associated with limitation (P = .46). In the active group, those with the II genotype were more likely to develop mobility limitation after adjusting for potential confounders compared with those with ID/DD genotypes (adjusted rate ratio, 1.45, 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.94). The gene association was especially strong among participants reporting weightlifting. Exploration of possible physiological correlates revealed that among active participants, those with the II genotype had higher percentage of body fat (P = .02) and more intermuscular thigh fat (P = .02) but had similar quadriceps strength as those with ID/DD. Conclusions Among older individuals who exercised, those with the ACE DD or ID genotypes were less likely to develop mobility limitation than those with the II genotype. Regardless of genotype, individuals who exercised were less likely to develop mobility limitation than those who did not exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the primary cause of death in older adults. Among those without clinical disease, high levels of subclinical disease are associated with poor survival. The effect of the extent of subclinical cardiovascular disease on the quality of the remaining years has not been defined. Methods: In a longitudinal cohort study, 2932 men and women aged 65 years and older were followed up for 8 years to determine the likelihood of maintaining intact health and functioning. Successful aging was defined as remaining free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and with intact physical and cognitive functioning. Results: Younger age at study entry and a lower extent of subclinical cardiovascular disease were independently associated with the likelihood of maintaining successful aging. In age-stratified summaries, those with subclinical disease had a trajectory of decline similar to subjects 5 years older without subclinical vascular disease. Regression analyses showed that the decline associated with subclinical disease was equivalent to 6.5 (95% confidence interval, 6.4-6.6) years of aging for women and 5.6 (95% confidence interval, 5.4-5.8) years of aging for men. Individual measures of the extent of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and higher C-reactive protein level were also independently predictive of fewer years of successful aging, but none of these factors substantially attenuated the effect of age itself. Conclusions: There is a graded relationship between the extent of vascular disease measured noninvasively and the likelihood of maintaining intact health and function. Prevention of subclinical vascular disease may increase the quality and the quantity of years in late life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]