Whereas a variety of epidemiological studies have examined factors associated with overall and cause-specific morbidity and mortality, limited data exist about factors associated with longevity, particularly in middle-aged men and women. The present study examined factors associated with survival to 75 years of age in middle-aged men and women from the community-based Framingham Study.
After excluding persons with cancer, cardio-vascular disease, or diabetes, 747 men and 973 women from the Framingham Study, who were 50 years of age at the time of a routine clinical examination and who could potentially reach 75 years of age during follow-up, were studied. Logistic regression modeling was used to examine factors associated with survival to 75 years of age.
Fewer cigarettes smoked per day, lower systolic blood pressure, and higher forced vital capacity were associated with longevity in both sexes. Lower heart rate in men and parental survival to 75 years of age in women were additionally associated with survival to 75 years of age.
The results of this long-term prospective study suggest a number of lifestyle characteristics and one familial factor associated with increased life expectancy. These data lend further support to the positive impact on life expectancy of health promotional efforts directed at smoking cessation and control of hypertension in middle-aged men and women.