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Total and cause-specific mortality in the cardiovascular health study
Newman AB, Sachs MC, Arnold AM, Fried LP, Kronmal R, Cushman M, Psaty BM, Harris TB et al.. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2009-09-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Few cohort studies have adequate numbers of carefully reviewed deaths to allow an analysis of unique and shared risk factors for cause-specific mortality. Shared risk factors could be targeted for prevention of premature death and the study of longevity. Methods A total of 5,888 community-dwelling persons aged 65 years or older living in four communities in the United States participated in the Cardiovascular Health Study cohort. Participants were initially recruited from 1989 to 1990; an additional 687 black participants were recruited in 1992-1993. The average length of follow-up was 16 years. Total and cause-specific mortality, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, dementia, pulmonary disease, infection, and other cause, were examined as outcomes. Variables previously associated with total mortality were examined for each cause of death using Cox proportional hazard models. Results Multiple risk factors were related to total mortality. When examining specific causes, many factors were related to cardiovascular death, whereas fewer were related to other causes. For most causes, risk factors were specific for that cause. For example, apolipoprotein E epsilon4 was strongly associated for dementia death and forced vital capacity with pulmonary death. Age, male sex, markers of inflammation, and cognitive function were related to multiple causes of death. Conclusions In these older adults, associations of risk factors with a given cause of death were related to specific deficits in that same organ system. Inflammation may represent a common pathway to all causes of death.
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APA 7th
Newman, A. B., Sachs, M. C., Arnold, A. M., Fried, L. P., Kronmal, R., Cushman, M., et al. (2009). Total and cause-specific mortality in the cardiovascular health study. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glp127
Vancouver
Newman AB, Sachs MC, Arnold AM, Fried LP, Kronmal R, Cushman M, et al. Total and cause-specific mortality in the cardiovascular health study. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. 2009. doi:10.1093/gerona/glp127. PMID: 19723772.
BibTeX
@article{newman2009-19723772,
author = {Newman, A. B. and Sachs, M. C. and Arnold, A. M. and Fried, L. P. and Kronmal, R. and Cushman, M. and Psaty, B. M. and Harris, T. B. and others},
title = {{Total and cause-specific mortality in the cardiovascular health study}},
journal = {The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences},
year = {2009},
doi = {10.1093/gerona/glp127},
pmid = {19723772},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glp127}
}
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Key findings
- Variables previously associated with total mortality were examined for each cause of death using Cox proportional hazard models.
- Results Multiple risk factors were related to total mortality.
Why it matters
In this cohort, apolipoprotein E epsilon4 was strongly associated with dementia death, and age, male sex, markers of inflammation, and cognitive function were related to multiple causes of death. These are risk factor associations with mortality, not findings about treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants5,888
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 58/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | The Journals of Gerontology Series A: journal h-index 274 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2009 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 5,888 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 80 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.2 citations a year over 19 year(s) since 2009 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Thomas Lumley: h-index 78 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | University of Washington: institution h-index 3,540 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 9 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19723772) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 58 / 100 | — |
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