Correlates of D-dimer in older persons
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Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Measurement of Factor V Activity in Human Plasma Using a Microplate Coagulation Assay
Published on: September 9, 2012
Freddy Tita-Nwa1, Angelo Bos, Abdul Adjei
1Clinical Research Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Background And Aims:
D-dimer is a marker of active fibrinolysis. Understanding how age-related factors affect D-dimer levels may help the interpretation of high D-dimer levels in older individuals.
Methods:
776 Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging (BLSA) participants (mean age 68.4+/-13.9 yrs) were divided into three groups according to baseline D-dimer levels >200 ng/mL; 100-200 ng/mL and <100 ng/mL.
Results:
D-dimer level increased with age (p<0.0001). Using polychotomous logistic regression models, we found that age, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hemoglobin and body mass index were independently associated with D-dimer level.
Conclusions:
Rising levels of D-dimer with age can be explained in part by the high prevalence of pro-inflammatory conditions and increasing burden of lipid abnormalities, anemia and obesity. These factors compromise the specificity of D-dimer levels as a diagnostic aid to thrombosis in older individuals.
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