Dyspnea: a strong independent factor for long-term mortality in the elderly
M Berraho1, C Nejjari, K El Rhazi
1M. Berraho, Department of Epidemiology, Clinical Research and Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Fez - Morocco. Univ. Bordeaux, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging
|November 22, 2013
Summary
Dyspnea, or shortness of breath, is a strong predictor of mortality in older adults. This study found that even mild dyspnea significantly increases the risk of death over 13 years, independent of other health factors.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Epidemiology
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Dyspnea is a common symptom in the elderly, often associated with various health conditions.
- Understanding its impact on long-term survival is crucial for geriatric care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between dyspnea at baseline and 13-year all-cause mortality in an elderly cohort.
- To assess if this association persists after adjusting for other mortality risk factors, including BMI.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study of 3646 community-dwelling French adults aged 65+ from the PAQUID cohort.
- Dyspnea was assessed using a 5-grade scale, and mortality was tracked over 13 years.
- Multivariate analysis adjusted for age, gender, BMI, ischemic heart disease, stroke, hypertension, smoking, and diabetes.
Main Results:
- Over 54% of participants died within 13 years.
- Univariate analysis revealed a significant association between increasing grades of dyspnea and higher mortality rates (P<10⁻⁴).
- Multivariate analysis confirmed that dyspnea independently predicts mortality, with Hazard Ratios (HR) of 1.13 for mild dyspnea, 1.42 for moderate, and 1.90 for severe dyspnea compared to no dyspnea.
Conclusions:
- Dyspnea is a significant independent predictor of long-term mortality in the elderly.
- The association between dyspnea and mortality is robust and consistent across various risk factors.
- These findings highlight the importance of assessing dyspnea in older adults for prognostication.
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