@article {703, title = {Incidence, manifestations, and predictors of brain infarcts defined by serial cranial magnetic resonance imaging in the elderly: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Stroke}, volume = {33}, year = {2002}, month = {2002 Oct}, pages = {2376-82}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MRI-defined infarcts are common in the elderly. We sought to explore incidence, manifestations, and predictors of such infarcts.

METHODS: The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) is a population-based, longitudinal study of 5888 people aged > or =65 years. Participants have had extensive baseline and follow-up evaluations; 1433 participants underwent 2 MRI scans separated by 5 years and had no infarcts on initial MRI.

RESULTS: On follow-up MRI, 254 participants (17.7\%) had 1 or more infarcts. Most were single (75.6\%), subcortical (79.9\%), and small (3 to 20 mm in 87.0\%). Only 11.4\% of those with infarcts experienced a documented transient ischemic attack or stroke between the scans. Although participants were similar at initial MRI, those with MRI-defined infarcts on follow-up experienced greater decline than those without infarcts on the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination and Digit-Symbol Substitution test (both P<0.01). Severity of white matter changes on initial MRI was the strongest predictor of incident infarcts. When it was excluded from stepwise multivariable models, predictors were serum creatinine, age, and ankle-arm index.

CONCLUSIONS: Incident MRI-defined infarcts commonly affect the elderly. Most are small, subcortical, and not associated with acute symptoms recognized as a transient ischemic attack or stroke. Nonetheless, they cannot be considered silent because of their association with subtle cognitive deficits. These covert infarcts are associated with white matter changes, which may share a common pathophysiology. Whether control of vascular risk factors, such as blood pressure, would reduce the risk of developing these infarcts and associated cognitive decline deserves further investigation.

}, keywords = {Aged, Brain Infarction, California, Cohort Studies, Creatinine, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Maryland, Multivariate Analysis, Neuropsychological Tests, North Carolina, Odds Ratio, Pennsylvania, Predictive Value of Tests, Risk Factors}, issn = {1524-4628}, doi = {10.1161/01.str.0000032241.58727.49}, author = {Longstreth, W T and Dulberg, Corinne and Manolio, Teri A and Lewis, Michael R and Beauchamp, Norman J and O{\textquoteright}Leary, Daniel and Carr, Jeff and Furberg, Curt D} } @article {790, title = {Increased left ventricular mass is a risk factor for the development of a depressed left ventricular ejection fraction within five years: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {J Am Coll Cardiol}, volume = {43}, year = {2004}, month = {2004 Jun 16}, pages = {2207-15}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Our aim in this study was to determine whether increased left ventricular mass (LVM) is a risk factor for the development of a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have shown that increased LVM is a risk factor for heart failure but not whether it is a risk factor for a low LVEF.

METHODS: As part of the Cardiovascular Health Study, a prospective population-based longitudinal study, we performed echocardiograms upon participant enrollment and again at follow-up of 4.9 +/- 0.14 years. In the present analysis, we identified 3,042 participants who had at baseline a normal LVEF and an assessment of LVM (either by electrocardiogram or echocardiogram), and at follow-up a measurable LVEF. The frequency of the development of a qualitatively depressed LVEF on two-dimensional echocardiography, corresponding approximately to an LVEF <55\%, was analyzed by quartiles of baseline LVM. Multivariable regression determined whether LVM was independently associated with the development of depressed LVEF.

RESULTS: Baseline quartile of echocardiographic LVM indexed to body surface area was associated with development of a depressed LVEF (4.8\% in quartile 1, 4.4\% in quartile 2, 7.5\% in quartile 3, and 14.1\% in quartile 4 [p < 0.001]). A similar relationship was seen in the subgroup of participants without myocardial infarction (p < 0.001). In multivariable regression that adjusted for confounders, both baseline echocardiographic (p < 0.001) and electrocardiographic (p < 0.001) LVM remained associated with development of depressed LVEF.

CONCLUSIONS: Increased LVM as assessed by electrocardiography or echocardiography is an independent risk factor for the development of depressed LVEF.

}, keywords = {Aged, Body Surface Area, Coronary Artery Disease, Diastole, Echocardiography, Electrocardiography, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Heart Ventricles, Humans, Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Multivariate Analysis, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Sensitivity and Specificity, Statistics as Topic, Stroke Volume, Ventricular Dysfunction, Left}, issn = {0735-1097}, doi = {10.1016/j.jacc.2003.11.064}, author = {Drazner, Mark H and Rame, J Eduardo and Marino, Emily K and Gottdiener, John S and Kitzman, Dalane W and Gardin, Julius M and Manolio, Teri A and Dries, Daniel L and Siscovick, David S} } @article {812, title = {Incidence, manifestations, and predictors of worsening white matter on serial cranial magnetic resonance imaging in the elderly: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Stroke}, volume = {36}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Jan}, pages = {56-61}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in the elderly commonly show white matter findings that may raise concerns. We sought to document incidence, manifestations, and predictors of worsening white matter grade on serial imaging.

METHODS: The Cardiovascular Health Study is a population-based, longitudinal study of 5888 people aged 65 years and older, of whom 1919 have had extensive initial and follow-up evaluations, including 2 MRI scans separated by 5 years. Scans were read without clinical information in standard side-by-side fashion to determine worsening white matter grade.

RESULTS: Worsening was evident in 538 participants (28\%), mostly (85\%) by 1 grade. Although similar at initial scan, participants with worsening white matter grade, compared with those without, experienced greater decline on modified Mini-Mental State examination and Digit-Symbol Substitution test (both P< or =0.001) after controlling for potential confounding factors, including occurrence of transient ischemic attack or stroke between scans. Independent predictors of worsening white matter grade included cigarette smoking before initial scan and infarct on initial scan. Otherwise, predictors differed according to white matter grade on initial scan. For low initial grade, increased age, increased diastolic blood pressure, increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were associated with increased risk of worsening. For high initial grade, any cardiovascular disease and low ankle-arm index were associated with decreased risk of worsening, whereas use of diuretics and statins were associated with increased risk.

CONCLUSIONS: Worsening white matter grade on serial MRI scans in elderly is common, is associated with cognitive decline, and has complex relations with cardiovascular risk factors.

}, keywords = {Aged, Brain, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cognition Disorders, Female, Humans, Incidence, Leukoaraiosis, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Risk Factors, Stroke}, issn = {1524-4628}, doi = {10.1161/01.STR.0000149625.99732.69}, author = {Longstreth, W T and Arnold, Alice M and Beauchamp, Norman J and Manolio, Teri A and Lefkowitz, David and Jungreis, Charles and Hirsch, Calvin H and O{\textquoteright}Leary, Daniel H and Furberg, Curt D} } @article {820, title = {Incidence of cardiovascular disease in older Americans: the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {53}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Feb}, pages = {211-8}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To estimate incidence rates of major cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older Americans.

DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study using prospectively collected data on cardiovascular events.

SETTING: Four U.S. communities in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS).

PARTICIPANTS: Five thousand eight hundred eighty-eight participants in CHS, aged 65 or older at enrollment, including 3,393 women (581 African American) and 2,495 men (343 African American).

MEASUREMENTS: At semiannual contacts, participants reported any occurrence of clinical CVD. Medical records were obtained and adjudicated to confirm diagnosis of CVD.

RESULTS: During 10 years of follow-up, incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) per 1,000 person-years was 39.6 (95\% confidence interval (CI)=36.4-43.1) in men and 22.3 (95\% CI=20.4-24.2) in women. Cumulative event rates for CHD and myocardial infarction for women aged 75 and older at baseline were similar to those for men aged 65 to 74. The overall incidence of stroke was similar for men and women (14.7 (95\% CI=13.0-16.6) and 13.7 (95\% CI=12.4-15.1) per 1,000 person-years, respectively), but the risk of stroke increased with age more rapidly in women, resulting in a greater cumulative event rate for stroke in women than in men aged 75 and older. The incidence of congestive heart failure increased 9\% with each year of age over 65 and was greater than 6\% per year in Caucasian men and women aged 85 and older at baseline. Rates were similar in African Americans and Caucasians.

CONCLUSION: The occurrence of new CVD in older Americans is high, indicating that preventive efforts need to be maintained into older ages.

}, keywords = {African Americans, Age Distribution, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Humans, Incidence, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Sex Distribution, Survival Rate, United States}, issn = {0002-8614}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53105.x}, author = {Arnold, Alice M and Psaty, Bruce M and Kuller, Lewis H and Burke, Gregory L and Manolio, Teri A and Fried, Linda P and Robbins, John A and Kronmal, Richard A} }