Left Ventricular Mass as a Risk Factor in the Oldest Old

In middle‐aged and “young elderly” cohorts, higher left ventricular mass (LVM) is associated with worse outcomes. The authors examined LVM and 5‐year mortality among community‐dwelling 85‐year‐old patients. A representative sample (n=526, born 1920–1921) from the Jerusalem Longitudinal Cohort Study underwent echocardiography at age 85. LVM was indexed by body surface area (LVM‐BSA) or height (LVM‐Ht). Patients with higher LVM were less educated and sedentary and had poorer self‐rated health, functional limitations, and increased comorbidity. Five‐year mortality was 21.7% (n=114). Adjusted 5‐year mortality rates were increased for the two upper quintiles of LVM‐BSA (hazard ratio [HR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–3.06) and LVM‐Ht (HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2–3.5). A step up in mortality occurred around the third quintile corresponding with LVM‐BSA 110 g/m(2) or LVM‐Ht 51 g/m(2.7). Among the oldest old, elevated LVM is significantly associated with mortality.