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Mortality and high haematrocrit in the very aged
Age and Ageing
|May 1, 1985
Summary
This study found that very low hematocrit levels in older adults (85+) correlate with higher mortality. Initially high hematocrit also showed increased mortality, but this effect diminished over time, suggesting a transient factor.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Hematology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Hematocrit levels vary with age and health status in elderly populations.
- The relationship between extreme hematocrit values and mortality in the very old is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between hematocrit values and 5-year mortality in individuals aged 85 years and older.
- To explore the temporal dynamics of mortality risk related to both low and high hematocrit levels.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 543 individuals aged 85+ was categorized by hematocrit.
- Mortality was tracked for 5 years post-categorization.
- Statistical analysis compared mortality rates across different hematocrit groups.
Main Results:
- The lowest hematocrit groups exhibited the highest overall mortality throughout the 5-year period.
- Initially, hematocrit values >= 0.48 were associated with higher first-year mortality compared to 0.40-0.47.
- This elevated mortality risk for high hematocrit disappeared by the second year, with decreased mortality observed in subsequent years.
Conclusions:
- Very low hematocrit is a persistent risk factor for mortality in the very elderly.
- The transient increase in mortality associated with initially high hematocrit suggests a non-chronic disease-related factor, possibly the hematocrit level itself.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind these hematocrit-mortality associations in advanced age.