CVD Risk Factors at Age 50.

February 15, 2006

" Among men who were free of these risk factors [high blood pressure,

smoking, diabetes and high cholesterol] at age 50, only 5 percent

developed atherosclerosis-related heart disease or stroke by the age

of 95. That compared with 69 percent of men who had two or more risk

factors at age 50. The difference was substantial among women as

well - 8 percent, versus 50 percent. "

http://heart.healthcentersonline.com/newsstories/cuttingheartrisksearl

ycouldaddyearslife.cfm?nl=1

http://snipurl.com/mlv2

Rodney.

February 16, 2006

Hi folks:

This looks like an incredibly significant study. Previously a study

was posted here which showed that of those who had normal blood

pressure at age 60, over 90% would eventually have high blood

pressure.

Yet, evidently, and more important, that high blood pressure will

rarely lead to heart disease.

Here is the abstract of the study that was referred to by the article

posted from HeartCentreOnLine:

" Prediction of lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease by risk

factor burden at 50 years of age.

Lloyd- DM, Leip EP, Larson MG, D'Agostino RB, Beiser A,

PW, Wolf PA, Levy D.

Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine,

Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. dlj@...

BACKGROUND: Lifetime risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

(CVD) has not previously been estimated, and the effect of risk

factor burden on lifetime risk is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: We

included all Framingham Heart Study participants who were free of CVD

(myocardial infarction, coronary insufficiency, angina, stroke,

claudication) at 50 years of age. Lifetime risks to 95 years of age

were estimated for men and women, with death free of CVD as a

competing event. We followed up 3564 men and 4362 women for 111,777

person-years; 1757 had CVD events and 1641 died free of CVD. At 50

years of age, lifetime risks were 51.7% (95% CI, 49.3 to 54.2) for

men and 39.2% (95% CI, 37.0 to 41.4) for women, with median survivals

of 30 and 36 years, respectively. With more adverse levels of single

risk factors, lifetime risks increased and median survivals

decreased. Compared with participants with > or =2 major risk

factors, those with optimal levels had substantially lower lifetime

risks (5.2% versus 68.9% in men, 8.2% versus 50.2% in women) and

markedly longer median survivals (>39 versus 28 years in men, >39

versus 31 years in women). CONCLUSIONS: The absence of established

risk factors at 50 years of age is associated with very low lifetime

risk for CVD and markedly longer survival. These results should

promote efforts aimed at preventing development of risk factors in

young individuals. Given the high lifetime risks and lower survival

in those with intermediate or high risk factor burden at 50 years of

age, these data may be useful in communicating risks and supporting

intensive preventive therapy. "

PMID: 16461820

Rodney.

--- In , " Rodney " <perspect1111@...>

wrote:

>

> " Among men who were free of these risk factors [high blood

pressure,

> smoking, diabetes and high cholesterol] at age 50, only 5 percent

> developed atherosclerosis-related heart disease or stroke by the

age

> of 95. That compared with 69 percent of men who had two or more

risk

> factors at age 50. The difference was substantial among women as

> well - 8 percent, versus 50 percent. "

>

http://heart.healthcentersonline.com/newsstories/cuttingheartrisksearl

> ycouldaddyearslife.cfm?nl=1

>

> http://snipurl.com/mlv2

>

> Rodney.

>

February 16, 2006