SERUM-CHOLESTEROL, HIGH-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL AND 5-YEAR SURVIVAL IN ELDERLY PEOPLE

In the year 1982 serum cholesterol and high-density hpoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were measured in 535 people aged 85 years participating in a health survey screening. All subjects were living at home. During the 5-year follow-up, 186 (34.8%) of the subjects died. There was a J-shaped relation between serum cholesterol and mortality. Mortality was lowest at serum cholesterol 5.0-5.9 mmol/1 for men and 7.0-7.9 mmol/1 for women. The greatest mortality was observed in men with cholesterol ≥6.0 mmol/1 and in women with cholesterol ≥8.0 mmol/1. There was a significant negative association of serum HDL cholesterol with mortality. Mortality was highest (53.3%)in men with serum HDL cholesterol < 0.80 mmol/1. Mortality was low (16.5%) in women with serum HDL cholesterol > 1.8 mmol/1. © 1990 British Geriatrics Society.