J Korean Geriatr Soc.  2002 Jun;6(2):121-129.

Albumin as a Predictor of Survival in Ambulatory Community Dwelling Korean Elderly

• Lee EJ
• Lee MS
• Lee YS

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study performed to identify the association between various nutritional indices including biochemical, anthropometric variables and mortality in Korean elderly.
METHODS
Among a total of 151,000 subjects over 40 years of living in Jung-up district, 1051 was selected using a random cluster sample method. Between Dec 1996 and Feb 1997, they underwent the blood tests and anthropometric measurements. Three years later, on Dec 2000, we investigated the mortality of the 340 subjects that had been over 65 years at the enroll time.
RESULTS
Of the 1051 subjects(M:F=410:641), 340 were over 65 years at the enroll time, 34(10%) had died by 3 years follow up. After adjustment of age and sex, decreased Hb, Hct, serum protein, albumin, increased serum creatinine were significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality(p<0.05) among the variables. Especially serum albumin remained strong predictors of mortality after cont rolling for other significant variables(RR=0.15, 95% CI=0.03-0.63, p=0.01).
CONCLUSION
We confirmed the strong independent association with serum albumin and mortality in the rural community dwelling ambulatory elderly Koreans.

Keyword

Nutrition; Elderly; Albumin; Mortality

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Creatinine
Follow-Up Studies
Hematologic Tests
Humans
Jeollabuk-do
Mortality
Nutrition Assessment
Rural Population
Serum Albumin
Creatinine
Serum Albumin