Cardiovascular Risk Factor Control in 70- to 95-Year-Old Individuals: Cross-Sectional Results from the Population-Based AugUR Study

Abstract

Cardiovascular risk factors such as high glucose, LDL-cholesterol, blood pressure, and impaired kidney function are particularly frequent in old-aged individuals. However, population-based data on the extent of cardiovascular risk factor control in the old-aged population is limited. AugUR is a cohort of the mobile “70+”-year-old population of/near Regensburg, recruited via population registries. We conducted cross-sectional analyses assessing the proportion of AugUR participants with LDL-cholesterol, HbA1c, or blood pressure beyond recommended levels and their association with impaired creatinine- and cystatin-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or urine albumin–creatinine ratio (UACR, ≥30 mg/g). Among 2215 AugUR participants, 74.7% were taking lipid-, glucose-, blood-pressure-lowering, or diuretic medication. High LDL-cholesterol at ≥116 mg/dL was observed for 76.1% (51.1% among those with prior cardiovascular events). We found HbA1c ≥ 7.0% for 6.3%, and high or low systolic blood pressure for 6.8% or 26.5%, respectively (≥160, <120 mmHg). Logistic regression revealed (i) high HbA1c levels associated with increased risk for impaired kidney function among those untreated, (ii) high blood pressure with increased UACR, and (iii) low blood pressure with impaired eGFR, which was confined to individuals taking diuretics. Our results provide important insights into cardiovascular risk factor control in individuals aged 70–95 years, which are understudied in most population-based studies.