Copyright © 2005, European Society of Cardiology
Inflammatory markers and cardiovascular health in older adults
Sticht Center on Aging, Section of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston Salem, NC 27157, United States
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 336 713 8548; fax: +1 336 713 8588. Email address: skritche{at}wfubmc.edu
In the past decade inflammatory markers have emerged as strong independent risk indicators for cardiovascular disease. Even though adults over the age of 65 experience a high proportion of such events, most epidemiologic data are from middle-aged populations. In this review we examine the role that inflammatory markers play in the prediction of incident cardiovascular disease specifically in older adults. In studies of adults < 65 years, IL-6, TNF
and IL-10 levels have been shown to predict cardiovascular outcomes. The data on C-reactive protein are inconsistent, but CRP levels appear to be less useful in old-age than in middle-age. Fibrinogen levels predict mortality but in a non-specific manner. In the elderly inflammatory markers are non-specific measures of health and predict both disability and mortality even in the absence of clinical cardiovascular disease. Thus it is possible that, in older age-groups, interventions designed to prevent cardiovascular disease through the modulation of inflamation would also be helpful in reducing disability and mortality.
KEYWORDS Coronary disease; Cytokines; Epidemiology; Infection/inflammation
Time for primary review 22 days
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