Cardiovascular Events in US Adults Aged ≥80 Years: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes

doi:10.1161/circoutcomes.125.012379

Prevention & lipidsCohort study

Cardiovascular Events in US Adults Aged ≥80 Years: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes

Circ Popul Health OutcomesPublished 20 Feb 2026

prospective cohort study
enrollment across the contiguous United States
adjudicated cardiovascular disease (CVD) events

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Authors' conclusion

The risk for CVD events in adults aged ≥80 years was high, and the association was stronger for albuminuria and inflammation versus hypertension and diabetes.

Study context

Population: Adults aged <70, 70 to <80, and ≥80 years in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) studyparticipants by age group · <70 years 4,621 · 70 to <80 years 4,938 · ≥80 years 2,450
Participants: 4,621 / 4,938 / 2,450

Exposure: Risk factors for the 5-year cumulative incidence of CVD events among adults aged <70, 70 to <80, and ≥80 years
<70 yearsn = 4,621
70 to <80 yearsn = 4,938
≥80 yearsn = 2,450

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Cumulative incidence of CVD events · 5 years

<70 years5.3%

70 to <80 years10.7%

≥80 years17.2%

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

Diabetes and hypertension associated with CVD events, by age group

Comparison	Lower risk ←→ Higher risk	HR (95% CI)
Diabetes · aged <70 years		1.42 (1.00–2.03)
Hypertension · aged <70 years		1.58 (1.19–2.09)
Diabetes · aged 70 to <80 years		1.41 (1.09–1.83)
Hypertension · aged 70 to <80 years		1.73 (1.43–2.08)
Diabetes · aged ≥80 years		1.03 (0.81–1.32)
Hypertension · aged ≥80 years		1.07 (0.84–1.35)
	0.512Hazard ratio (log scale)

Risk factors for CVD events among those aged ≥80 years

Comparison	Lower risk ←→ Higher risk	HR (95% CI)
LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL		1.24 (1.01–1.51)
hsCRP ≥3 mg/L		1.27 (1.03–1.55)
albuminuria		1.61 (1.30–1.98)
prior history of CVD		2.25 (1.84–2.76)
	0.20.5125Hazard ratio (log scale)

Outcome	Values	Estimate
All-cause mortality following a CVD event, participants aged ≥80 years · 1 year · age-matched	CVD event 53.1% (95% CI 48.3%–57.8%) · age-matched participants who did not have a CVD event 5.7% (95% CI 3.5%–7.9%)

Original publication

Cardiovascular Events in US Adults Aged ≥80 Years: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes. Circ Popul Health Outcomes. Published 20 February 2026. doi:10.1161/circoutcomes.125.012379

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Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it