Is Parental Longevity Associated with the Cardiovascular Risk and the Successful Aging of Their Offspring? Results from the Multinational MEDIS Study

Stefanos Tyrovolas, Evangelos Polychronopoulos, Anargiros Mariolis, Suzanne Piscopo, Giuseppe Valacchi, Kornilia Makri, Akis Zeimbekis, Dimitra Tyrovola, Vassiliki Bountziouka, Efthimios Gotsis, George Metallinos, Josep Antoni Tur, Antonia Matalas, Christos Lionis, Josep Maria Haro, Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of parental longevity and parental cardiovascular disease (CVD) history in CVD risk and successful aging of a random sample of older adults living in the Mediterranean basin and who participated in the MEDiterranean Islands (MEDIS) study. During 2005 to 2011, 2663 elders were voluntarily enrolled. A multidimensional successful aging index consisting of 10 components was used. Paternal and maternal longevity was defined as those older participants of whom both parents lived above the age of 90. The burden of CVD-related factors (CVD-RFs) was calculated as the total score of 4 major CVD-RFs (range 0-4). After adjustment, parental longevity was inversely associated with the burden of CVD-RFs (P =.04). Moreover, parental longevity was positively associated with the older adults' successful aging score (β-coefficient [95% confidence interval]:.38 [0.06-0.71]). Parent's long living was revealed as an important factor for successful aging and for reduced CVD risk, suggesting that further research is needed in the genetic predisposition of longevity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)124-131
Number of pages8
JournalAngiology
Volume68
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2017

Keywords

  • cardiovascular disease
  • Mediterranean basin
  • older adults
  • parental longevity
  • successful aging

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Is Parental Longevity Associated with the Cardiovascular Risk and the Successful Aging of Their Offspring? Results from the Multinational MEDIS Study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this