Gender differences in risk factor profile among elderly and its impact on total and cardiovascular mortality

Objective . To evaluate gender differences in the profile of a wide range of risk factors (RF) among men and women aged 65 years and older and its associations with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Design and methods . The present study was the part of the Survey on Stress, Aging, and Health in Russia. The sample size was 1,243 participants aged 65 years and older. Thirty RF were included in the analysis, including social, cardiometabolic, behavioural, physical and cognitive functioning, inflammation, and neuroendocrine biomarkers, as well as coronary heart disease (CHD), myocardial infarction, arterial hypertension, and acute stroke. The mean follow-up was 12 years, during which 534 participants died from various causes, including 324 from cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Results . Multivariate analysis showe that elevated heart rate, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, elevated interleukin‑6, elevated leukocyte levels, reduced cognitive function (for CVD mortality), CHD and history of acute stroke contributed to allcause and CVD mortality among men 65 years and older. Elevated blood pressure and elevated high-sensitive C-reactive protein, impaired cognitive function, reduced muscle strength, reduced dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels, absence of children, and a history of acute stroke were associated with all-cause and CVD mortality among women 65 years and older. Conclusions . The present study identified gender difference in survival and RF profile for both total and CVD mortality in population of men and women aged 65 years and older. Aamong more than 30 RF and several CVD, 8 indicators were found to affect mortality in men and 7 RF affected mortality in women.