Predictors of stroke-associated mortality in the elderly.

Although stroke is a major cause of death in older adults, few studies have examined the independent contribution of cardiovascular disease risk factors to stroke mortality in the geriatric age group. We report here a nine-year followup of a Southern California community of 2107 men and women aged 65 to 84 years. In this older cohort, age was the most significant independent risk factor for stroke-associated mortality in both sexes. Systolic blood pressure was weakly but significantly associated with stroke mortality in this older age group. Cigarette smoking was positively related and educational level of head of household negatively related to stroke mortality in both sexes, with the predominant effect in women. No significant independent effect of cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose or obesity was discernible. Both blood pressure and cigarette smoking are potentially remedial risk factors for stroke after age 65.