We studied 318 subjects aged 80 years or over included in the Cardiova
scular Study in the Elderly (CASTEL). Some well known risk factors (le
ft ventricular hypertrophy, glucose intolerance, cholesterol, ApoB/Apo
A ratio, triglycerides, proteinuria, cigarette smoking, and ECG abnorm
alities), whose importance in cardiovascular risk is definitely accept
ed for young adults, were very poor predictors of mortality in our sur
vey. On the contrary, FEV, reduction and blood uric acid were strong p
redictors.