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Prognostic implications of microvascular and macrovascular abnormalities in older adults: cardiovascular health study.

TitlePrognostic implications of microvascular and macrovascular abnormalities in older adults: cardiovascular health study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsKim, DHyun, Grodstein, F, Newman, AB, Chaves, PHM, Odden, MC, Klein, R, Sarnak, MJ, Patel, KV, Lipsitz, LA
JournalJ Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci
Volume69
Issue12
Pagination1495-502
Date Published2014 Dec
ISSN1758-535X
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Ankle Brachial Index, Disability Evaluation, Electrocardiography, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Forecasting, Humans, Life Expectancy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Microcirculation, Prognosis, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Vascular Malformations
Abstract<p><b>BACKGROUND: </b>Microvascular and macrovascular abnormalities are frequently found on noninvasive tests performed in older adults. Their prognostic implications on disability and life expectancy have not been collectively assessed.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>This prospective study included 2,452 adults (mean age: 79.5 years) with available measures of microvascular (brain, retina, kidney) and macrovascular abnormalities (brain, carotid, coronary, peripheral artery) in the Cardiovascular Health Study. The burden of microvascular and macrovascular abnormalities was examined in relation to total, activity-of-daily-living disability-free, and severe disability-free life expectancies in the next 10 years (1999-2009).</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>At 75 years, individuals with low burden of both abnormalities lived, on average, 8.71 years (95% confidence interval: 8.29, 9.12) of which 7.67 years (7.16, 8.17) were without disability. In comparison, individuals with high burden of both abnormalities had shortest total life expectancy (6.95 years [6.52, 7.37]; p < .001) and disability-free life expectancy (5.60 years [5.10, 6.11]; p < .001). Although total life expectancy was similarly reduced for those with high burden of either type of abnormalities (microvascular: 7.96 years [7.50, 8.42] vs macrovascular: 8.25 years [7.80, 8.70]; p = .10), microvascular abnormalities seemed to have larger impact than macrovascular abnormalities on disability-free life expectancy (6.45 years [5.90, 6.99] vs 6.96 years [6.43, 7.48]; p = .016). These results were consistent for severe disability-free life expectancy and in individuals without clinical cardiovascular disease.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>Considering both microvascular and macrovascular abnormalities from multiple noninvasive tests may provide additional prognostic information on how older adults spend their remaining life. Optimal clinical use of this information remains to be determined.</p>
DOI10.1093/gerona/glu074
Alternate JournalJ. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci.
PubMed ID24864308
PubMed Central IDPMC4271022
Grant ListN01HC55222 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01-AG-027002 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG024827 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85080 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R37-AG-25037 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
NHLBI-HC-97-06 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
K01 AG039387 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30-AG-024827 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85081 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R21-HL-077166 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85079 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85086 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85082 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
HHSN268200800007C / / PHS HHS / United States
R01 AG041785 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01-AG-023629 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
HHSN268201200036C / / PHS HHS / United States
HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85083 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
P01-AG-004390 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG023629 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States