This study was performed to investigate the risk factors for coronary heart disease in elderly women. Seventy five elderly women over 65 years of age participated with 35 elderly men over 65 years of age, 40 middle-aged men and 31 middle-aged women as control subjects. The percentage of body fat(34.1 5.6%) in elderly women found to be significantly higher than in other groups and their waist/hip circumference ratio(WHR) was higher than in middle-aged women. The concentrations of plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in elderly women were higher than in other groups, TG concentration higher than in middle aged women and HDL-cholesterol % lower than in other groups. Plasma cholesterol ester transfer protein(CETP) activities of elderly women were significantly higher than in middle-aged subjects, but were not different from those of elderly men. Plasma Apolipoprotein(Apo) A-I level in elderly women was higher than in middle-aged men but not different from the other groups. Differences among groups were not great in Lipoprotein (Lp)(a)levels. CETP activities were significantly correlated with age, body fat % total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and Lp(a). Therefore, it appears that the increased risk of coronary heart disease in elderly women is due to the increase of body fat, central adipose distribution, serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and CETP activities.