Survival of octogenarians: six years after initial chromosome examination.

The frequencies of hypodiploidy, hyperdiploidy, monosomy C, monosomy G, and breaks were lower in the 19 female octogenarians who survived chromosome examination by six years than in the 19 who died, although none of the differences were statistically significant. In men, if anything, the trend was in the opposite direction with the nine survivors having higher frequencies than the 14 decedents. Again the differences were small and none were statistically significant. In neither sex, was there a relationship between length of survival and any of the parameters examined. Repeat chromosome examinations (two each, average interval 2.4 years) were available for seven women (one survivor and six decedents). There were no statistically significant differences between the two chromosome examinations except for an increase in monosomy C. Seven individuals, however, including but a single survivor, form too small a group to permit definitive conclusions about the lack of a relationship between chromosomal changes and survival.