Gender differences in age-related physiological changes and some diseases

The clinical and laboratory data from a cross-sectional and a longitudinal study of healthy individuals between 50-89 years of age and that of centenarians were compared. The examination showed that in healthy elderly subjects and centenarians most of the clinical laboratory findings were in the normal range. However, age-related changes could be observed in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, in serum albumin level, and in the frequency of rheuma factor. Gender difference could be seen in the HDL-cholesterol level. Age and sex differences were observed in the hematocrit-, and hemoglobin-values, in serum creatinine-, total cholesterol-, serum IgG, IgA, IgM-levels, and in the frequency of the occurrence of antinuclear factor. The examinations demonstrated that lower hemoglobin and hematocrit values, elevated total-cholesterol level, the presence of antinuclear and rheuma factor, and elevated systolic blood pressure were more frequent in females than in males. It could be stated, however, that the mentioned changes did not prevent females from having a longer life span than males.