Associations of parental ages at childbirth with healthy aging among women

Abstract

Objective: To examine associations of parental ages at childbirth with healthy survival to age 90 years among older women. Study Design: This study included a racially and ethnically diverse sub-cohort of 8,983 postmenopausal women from the larger Women's Health Initiative population, recruited during 1993-1998 and followed for up to 25 years through 2018. Main Outcome Measures: The outcome was categorized as: 1) healthy survival, defined as survival to age 90 without major morbidities (coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, or hip fracture) or mobility disability; 2) usual survival, defined as survival to age 90 without healthy aging (reference category); or 3) death before age 90. Women reported their own and their parents' birth years, and parental ages at childbirth were calculated and categorized as < 25, 25-29, 30-34, or ≥35 years. Results: Women were aged on average 71.3 (standard deviation 2.7; range 65-79) years at baseline. There was no significant association of maternal age at childbirth with healthy survival to age 90 or death before age 90. Women born to fathers aged ≥35 compared with 30-34 years at their births were more likely to achieve healthy than usual survival (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.00-1.32). There was no association of paternal age at childbirth with death before age 90. Conclusions: Findings suggest that being born to older fathers was associated with healthy survival to age 90 among women who had survived to ages 65-79 years at study baseline. There was no association of maternal age at childbirth with healthy survival to age 90 among these older women.

Systolic Blood Pressure and Survival to Very Old Age. Results from the Women’s Health Initiative

“…[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] As the population is rapidly ageing with adults and particularly women greater than 65 years representing the fastest growing segment of the U.S. adult population, a better understanding of which SBP levels are associated with survival to very old age is important to identify strategies to lengthen lifespan and healthspan. 15,16 In this analysis using BP measurements from a large U.S. cohort, we sought to elucidate which SBP levels in women older than 65 years and free of major chronic diseases were associated with the highest probability of surviving to age 90. We hypothesized that in women with or without BP medication, adhering to recommended SBP target ranges (i.e., SBP < 130 mmHg) would be associated with the highest probability of survival to age 90.…”

Systolic Blood Pressure and Survival to Very Old Age: Results From the Women’s Health Initiative

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] The population is aging rapidly, with adults and particularly women ≥65 years of age representing the fastest-growing segment of the US adult population; therefore, determining which SBP levels specifically are associated with survival to very old age is important to identify strategies that may lengthen lifespan and health span. 9,10 Using blood pressure (BP) measurements from a large multicenter clinical trial, we sought to determine which SBP levels in women >65 years of age who were free of major chronic diseases were associated with the highest probability of surviving to 90 years of age. We hypothesized that for women with or without BP medication, maintaining and SBP within target ranges (ie, SBP <130 mm Hg) would be associated with the highest probability of survival to 90 years of age.…”

“…1–8 The population is aging rapidly, with adults and particularly women ≥65 years of age representing the fastest-growing segment of the US adult population; therefore, determining which SBP levels specifically are associated with survival to very old age is important to identify strategies that may lengthen lifespan and health span. 9,10…”