Changes in health deterioration among participants of the Framingham Heart Study from the 1960s to the 1990s

Alexander Kulminski, Duke University
Konstantin G. Arbeev, Duke University
Svetlana V. Ukraintseva, Duke University
Irina V. Culminskaya, Duke University
Kenneth C. Land, Duke University
Anatoliy I. Yashin, Duke University

Using a cumulative deficits approach we investigated whether improvements documented in the general population along major health dimensions were evident at the basic level of health assessments associated with small changes in the aging-related health deterioration. We selected 37 small-effect traits consistently measured in the 9th (performed in 1964) and 14th (1974) Framingham Heart and 5th (1991-1995) Offspring Study exams. We identified deficits-specific indices of cumulative deficits (DIs) characterizing health dimensions associated with no health changes (DINHC), health worsening (DIWRS), and health improving (DIIMP) between the 1960s and 1990s. The risks of death attributable to the DINHC dominate within shorter time horizons. For longer time horizons, both the DINHC and DIIMP provide the same contribution to the risks of death. The mortality risks associated with the DIWRS are the weakest and least significant. The analyses show favorable trends such that health of the Framingham studies participants either did not change or improved over time for the most serious small-effect traits.