Serum cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and five-year survival in elderly people.

In the year 1982 serum cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were measured in 535 people aged 85 years participating in a health survey screening. All subjects were living at home. During the 5-year follow-up, 186 (34.8%) of the subjects died. There was a J-shaped relation between serum cholesterol and mortality. Mortality was lowest at serum cholesterol 5.0-5.9 mmol/l for men and 7.0-7.9 mmol/l for women. The greatest mortality was observed in men with cholesterol greater than or equal to 6.0 mmol/l and in women with cholesterol greater than or equal to 8.0 mmol/l. There was a significant negative association of serum HDL cholesterol with mortality. Mortality was highest (53.3%) in men with serum HDL cholesterol less than 0.80 mmol/l. Mortality was low (16.5%) in women with serum HDL cholesterol greater than 1.8 mmol/l.