OBJECTIVETo describe chronic diseases and other related health indicators of centenarians, compare these health indicators with other age groups in longevity areas in China.

METHODSResidents who participated in the project of Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) conducted in 2008 - 2009 were selected from 7 Longevity Areas.2029 people aged 40 and over attended the study from March to June, 2009, including 469 aged 40 and over, 436 aged 60 and over, 346 aged 80 and over, 380 aged 90 and over, 398 centenarians. Information, including socio-demographic, were collected by self-designed questionnaire. Calibrated instruments were used by the clinical personnel who had worked over 3 years to manually check subjects' health. Venous blood and urine samples were collected for blood and urine routine test, plasma macro and trace elements test, plasma biological test, using standard methods such as instrument analysis, atomic absorption spectrometry. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistical methods.

RESULTSIn the groups aged 40 and over, 60 and over, 80 and over, 90 and over, 100 and over, the body mass index (BMI) were (23.2 +/- 4.6), (22.1 +/- 3.7), (20.2 +/- 3.4), (20.2 +/- 3.9) and (19.1 +/- 5.0) kg/m(2) in males (F = 22.78, P < 0.01) and (23.3 +/- 4.0), (21.6 +/- 3.5), (19.7 +/- 3.9), (19.0 +/- 4.8), (18.4 +/- 3.8) kg/m(2) in females (F = 51.84, P < 0.01); the prevalence of hypertension were 38.3% (80/209), 60.8% (166/273), 63.5% (106/167), 61.8% (68/110), 54.8% (34/62) in males (chi(2) = 34.26, P < 0.01) and 32.3% (84/260), 60.1% (98/163), 69.8% (125/179), 61.5% (166/270), 58.9% (198/336) in females (chi(2) = 78.45, P < 0.01); the prevalence of diabetes were 10.5% (22/209), 12.5% (34/273), 9.0% (15/167), 18.2% (20/110), 12.9% (8/62) in males (chi(2) = 5.92, P = 0.20) and 4.2% (11/260), 15.3% (25/163), 10.1% (18/179), 12.2% (33/270), 7.4% (25/336) in females (chi(2) = 19.25, P < 0.01). In groups aged 40 and over, 90 and over, 100 and over, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were (29.03 +/- 5.79), (30.93 +/- 5.39), (31.63 +/- 5.92) U/ml in males (F = 4.40, P < 0.05) and (28.27 +/- 6.25), (30.86 +/- 5.72), (31.55 +/- 5.25) U/ml in females (F = 13.13, P < 0.05); levels of plasma calcium were (3.63 +/- 1.08), (3.09 +/- 0.91), (3.34 +/- 1.07) mmol/L in males (F = 5.71, P < 0.01) and (3.84 +/- 1.02), (3.19 +/- 1.16), (3.38 +/- 1.16) mmol/L in females (F = 11.61, P < 0.01); levels of selenium were (1.44 +/- 0.86), (1.28 +/- 0.60), (1.75 +/- 0.57)micromol/L in males (F = 3.79, P < 0.05) and (1.44 +/- 0.80), (1.48 +/- 0.81), (1.78 +/- 0.80) micromol/L in females (F = 8.69, P < 0.01); levels of iron were (63.25 +/- 49.05), (71.86 +/- 54.16), (138.36 +/- 77.60) micromol/L in males (F = 22.78, P < 0.01) and (64.86 +/- 57.72), (74.56 +/- 56.93), (106.56 +/- 74.08) micromol/L in females (F = 17.88, P < 0.01); levels of copper were (23.49 +/- 12.85), (17.96 +/- 7.57), (22.33 +/- 6.89) micromol/L in males (F = 5.18, P < 0.01) and (21.52 +/- 10.63), (19.60 +/- 9.57), (22.99 +/- 8.71) micromol/L in females (F = 5.68, P < 0.01); positive rates of high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hsCRP) were 5.5% (8/146), 24.0% (18/75), 31.3% (10/32) in males (chi(2) = 22.62, P < 0.01) and 9.8% (12/122), 19.6% (40/204), 25.1% (49/195) in females (chi(2) = 11.24, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe results indicate that the centenarians have lower chronic diseases risks and higher anti-oxidants activity compared with other age groups, and have a high level of nutritional elements compared with those aged 90 and over. However, it is more common for them suffering from inflammation.