You are here

Body mass index and mortality in nonsmoking older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study.

TitleBody mass index and mortality in nonsmoking older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1998
AuthorsDiehr, P, Bild, DE, Harris, TB, Duxbury, A, Siscovick, D, Rossi, M
JournalAm J Public Health
Volume88
Issue4
Pagination623-9
Date Published1998 Apr
ISSN0090-0036
KeywordsAge Distribution, Aged, Body Mass Index, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cause of Death, Cohort Studies, Female, Humans, Logistic Models, Male, Mortality, Predictive Value of Tests, Risk Factors, Sex Distribution, Smoking, Survival Analysis, United States, Weight Loss
Abstract<p><b>OBJECTIVES: </b>This study assesses the relationship of body mass index to 5-year mortality in a cohort of 4317 nonsmoking men and women aged 65 to 100 years.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>Logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict mortality as a function of baseline body mass index, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and laboratory covariates.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>There was an inverse relationship between body mass index and mortality; death rates were higher for those who weighed the least. Inclusion of covariates had trivial effects on these results. People who had lost 10% or more of their body weight since age 50 had a relatively high death rate. When that group was excluded, there was no remaining relationship between body mass index and mortality.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>The association between higher body mass index and mortality often found in middle-aged populations was not observed in this large cohort of older adults. Over-weight does not seem to be a risk factor for 5-year mortality in this age group. Rather, the risks associated with significant weight loss should be the primary concern.</p>
Alternate JournalAm J Public Health
PubMed ID9551005
PubMed Central IDPMC1508430
Grant ListN01-HC-85079 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85080 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85081 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States