We studied 318 subjects aged 80 years or over included in the Cardiovascular Study in the Elderly (CASTEL). Some well known risk factors (left ventricular hypertrophy, glucose intolerance, cholesterol, ApoB/ApoA ratio,. triglycerides, proteinuria, cigarette smoking, and ECG abnormalities), whose importance m cardiovascular risk is definitely accepted for young adults, were very poor predictors of mortality in our survey. On the contrary, FEV1 reduction and blood uric acid were strong predictors.