This study examines the association between body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist circumference (WC) and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in elderly women in a 5-year longitudinal study of 575 female outpatients 60 years and over. The highest BMI, WHR, and WC quartiles and predefined BMI categories were analyzed as predictive variables. Death occurred in 88 (15.4%). Underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) was associated with all-cause mortality in uni- and multivariate analyses, regardless of age bracket. The survival curves and univariate analysis showed that the highest WHR quartile (> or = 0.97) was associated with all-cause mortality. However, after adjustment for age, smoking, and previous cardiovascular diseases, the increase in WHR was positively associated only in women from 60 to 80 years of age. None of the anthropometric measurements was associated with cardiovascular mortality. The results indicate that underweight and increased waist-to-hip ratio were predictors of all-cause mortality in elderly women, mainly among those under 80 years.