Aging and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in older American Indians: the Strong Heart Study.

OBJECTIVES

To describe longitudinal changes in the prevalence of major cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in aging American Indians.

DESIGN

Population-based ongoing epidemiological study.

SETTING

The Strong Heart Study is a study of CVD and its risk factors. Standardized examinations were repeated in 1993 to 1995 and again in 1997 to 1999.

PARTICIPANTS

A diverse cohort of 4,549 American Indians aged 45 to 74 at the initial examinations in 1989 to 1991.

MEASUREMENTS

Changes in the prevalence of hypertension, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), current smoking, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

RESULTS

The prevalence of hypertension rose rapidly and steadily with aging. A nonsignificant decrease in LDL-C was seen in men, and men and women initially had rapid increases in the prevalence of low HDL-C. The prevalence of smoking decreased, but the prevalence of diabetes mellitus continued to rise for men and women.

CONCLUSION

Overall, unfavorable changes in CVD risk factors were seen in the aging participants and will likely be reflected in worsening morbidity and mortality.