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

Abstract

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.