A population-based study of hemoglobin, race, and mortality in elderly persons

Background. Anemia is associated with increased mortality risk. The impact of mildly low hemoglobin concentration (Hb) on risk for mortality remains unclear, especially among blacks. We examined the racial differences between Hb and mortality. Methods. This was a population-based study conducted from 1993 through 2006, in a geographically defined community of Chicago, Illinois. A stratified, random sample of 1806 participants 65 years old or older and 50% black, who were participating in the Chicago Health Aging Project and underwent clinical evaluation. Mortality was ascertained using the National Death Index. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the independent relation of Hb to mortality risk. Results. The proportion of participants with anemia by World Health Organization (WHO) criteria (Hb < 13.0 g/dL for men and < 12.0 g/dL for women) was 39% among blacks, and 17% among whites. Blacks had lower mean Hb (12.6 +/- 1.5 g/dL) than did whites (13.5 +/- 1.5 g/dL). In multivariable analysis, anemia was associated with increased mortality risk in blacks (hazard ratio [HR], 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-2.53) and in whites (HR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.32-2.59). Among blacks, Hb 0-0.9 g/dL below the anemia threshold is associated with increased mortality risk compared to Hb 0-0.9 g/dL above the anemia cutoff (HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.21-2.79), Hb 1.1-2.0 g/dL above the anemia cutoff (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 0.88-2.05) and Hb 2.1-3.0 g/dL above the anemia cutoff (HR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.12-4.47). The terms for interaction between black ethnicity/race and anemia suggested that blacks did not have a statistically significant difference in mortality risk compared to whites. Subgroup analyses of interaction terms suggested that Hb 0.1-1.0 g/dL above anemia cutoff group, blacks may have lower mortality risk compared to whites in the mildly low normal ranges of Hb (p =.02). Conclusion. Both anemia by WHO criteria and mild reductions in Hb were related to increased risk of mortality in older blacks and whites.     

Racial variation in the relationship of anemia with mortality and mobility disability among older adults

Anemia is more common among older blacks than older whites. However, it is unclear whether anemia predicts adverse events similarly in both races. Data on 1018 black and 1583 white adults aged 71 to 82 years were analyzed. Anemia, as defined by World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, was used to predict mortality over 6 years and incidence of mobility disability over 4 years. In proportional hazards models of mortality in whites, the age-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for anemia in men was 1.96 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35, 2.83) and in women was 2.86 (95% CI: 1.69, 4.82). In contrast, anemia was not associated with mortality in black men (HR = 1.15 [95% CI: 0.77, 1.72]) or women (HR = 1.39 [95% CI: 0.91, 2.14]). Higher mortality rate was observed only in black men with hemoglobin values more than 20 g/L (2.0 g/dL) below the WHO cutoff, whereas mortality rates were elevated in white men with hemoglobin values 1 to 10, 11 to 20, and more than 20 g/L below the WHO cutoff. In conclusion, anemia was significantly associated with increased risk of death and mobility disability in community-dwelling older whites. Conversely, older blacks classified as anemic by WHO criteria were not at risk for adverse events, indicating that alternative criteria are warranted.     

Hemoglobin decline,function, and mortality in the elderly: The cardiovascular health study

While anemia is associated with poor functional and mortality outcomes in the elderly, the impact of hemoglobin decline is less studied. We evaluated the determinants and consequences of hemoglobin decline in 3,758 non‐anemic participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study, a prospective cohort of community‐dwelling elderly ≥65 years old at baseline and followed for up to 16 years. Hemoglobin was measured at baseline and 3 years later and anemia defined by World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. We modeled hemoglobin decline in two ways: (1) per each 1 g/dL decrease in hemoglobin and (2) development of anemia by the WHO criteria. Among participants without baseline anemia, hemoglobin decreased by 0.4 g/dL and 9% developed anemia over 3 years. Baseline increasing age, female sex, diabetes, and kidney disease predicted hemoglobin decline over 3 years. Baseline increasing age, being African‐American, and kidney disease predicted anemia development over 3 years. Hemoglobin decline was associated with subsequent worse cognitive function in men and anemia development with subsequent worse cognitive function in women. Both anemia development (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.15, 1.69) and hemoglobin decline (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04, 1.18 per 1 g/dL decrease) predicted subsequent mortality in men and women. Hemoglobin decreases identified a large group of elderly individuals at risk for subsequent adverse outcomes who would not be identified using the WHO anemia criteria. These data may allow clinicians to identify at‐risk elderly individuals for early intervention to improve the quality and quantity of life. Am. J. Hematol. 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Prevalence of anemia and its impact on the state of frailty in elderly people living in the community: SADEM study

Anemia represents a global health problem that negatively impacts quality of life in elderly population; however, its impact on the geriatric syndrome of frailty is unclear. We examined the prevalence of anemia among elderly and sought a relationship between hemoglobin and the phenotype of frailty. Baseline hemoglobin quintiles and anemia were assessed in relation to frailty status in a prospective study with 1,933 older community-dwelling adults enrolled in the Study on Aging and Dementia in Mexico (SADEM). Logistic regression was used to model the relationship between frailty and Hb, adjusting for risk factors of frailty, sociodemographic data, cognitive decline, chronic diseases, and some risky habits. Prevalence of frailty was 8.3 %. Frailty risk was highest at the lowest hemoglobin quintile (<14.3 g/dL for men; <13.3 g/dL for women), and 160 (8.3 %) were anemic (<13 g/dL for men; <12 g/dL for women). The relationship between frailty and Hb levels, adjusted for age and sex, observed in the first and fifth quintiles, compared with the fourth quintile, were 1.53 (95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.46–1.60) and 1.05 (95 % CI, 1.01–1.15). After multivariate adjustment, the odds ratios (ORs) were 1.23 (95 % CI, 1.17–1.13) and 1.06 (95 % CI, 1.01–1.11). The association was not diminished by risk factors for frailty (body mass index (BMI), comorbidity, cognitive decline, smoking, alcohol consumption, etc.). In community-dwelling older adults, low hemoglobin concentrations and anemia were independently associated with increased frailty risk. This suggests that mild anemia and low Hb levels are independent, modifiable risk factors for frailty.     

Hemoglobin levels and coronary heart disease risk by age,race, and sex in the reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke study (REGARDS)

Higher and lower hemoglobin concentrations are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), but whether this risk is consistent across age, sex, and race is unclear. The Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study is an observational cohort study of 30 239 black, and white, adults aged 45 and older recruited 2003-7. Participants were included if they had hemoglobin measures, were CHD-free at baseline, and had all baseline variables. The primary outcome was incident CHD. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for incident CHD by hemoglobin concentration. This was expressed as a continuous variable and divided into age-, sex-, and race-specific quintiles. The 16 332 participants were included, contributing 114 362 person-years of follow-up and 915 incident CHD events. The mean age was 63 years, 35% were male, 41% were black, and the mean baseline hemoglobin was 13.6 g/dL (SD 1.4). A significant non-linear association between hemoglobin and CHD was identified (P < .001). This association differed significantly by race (P = .025) but not by sex or age. In whites, the risk for incident CHD was higher in the lowest (HR 2.28, 95% CI 1.61, 3.33) and highest (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.35, 2.79) hemoglobin quintiles relative to the third quintile. For blacks, only those in the lowest hemoglobin quintile had an increased risk for incident CHD events (HR 1.70, 95% CI 1.20, 2.41). Hemoglobin is an independent risk factor for CHD in whites and blacks but with different hemoglobin concentrations conferring different risks.     

Hemoglobin,Frailty, and Long-term Cardiovascular Events in Community-Dwelling Older Men Aged ≥ 70 Years

BackgroundAnemia is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality in older populations. However, the relationship between hemoglobin and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and whether this is modulated by frailty, is unclear.MethodsCHAMP (Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project) is a prospective study of community-dwelling men aged ≥ 70 years. The relationship between hemoglobin and 7-year MACE was analysed by means of Cox regression. The Youden index was used to determine the optimal hemoglobin cutoff point in predicting MACE. Frailty was assessed with the use of the Fried criteria.ResultsThe cohort comprised 1604 men (mean ± SD age 76.9 ± 5.5 years). Decreasing hemoglobin was associated with increased comorbidity, frailty, and MACE (P < 0.001), with 140 g/L the optimal cutoff point for predicting MACE. Hemoglobin, age, and frailty independently predicted MACE (all P < 0.001). Each 10 g/L decrement in hemoglobin level was associated with increased risk of MACE (hazard ratio [HR] 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.20; P < 0.001), all-cause mortality (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.12-1.29; P < 0.001), cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.14; P = 0.025), myocardial infarction (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.09-1.25; P < 0.001), and heart failure (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.09-1.25; P < 0.001). When stratified into hemoglobin quintiles, men in the lowest 2 quintiles (Hb 133-140 g/L and < 132g/L, respectively) were at increased risk of MACE, cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, and heart failure (all P < 0.05). This relationship for MACE was independent from frailty status, with the test for interaction between frailty and hemoglobin not reaching significance (P = 0.24).ConclusionsLow hemoglobin was associated with increased MACE in community-dwelling older men independently from frailty. A hemoglobin cutoff point of 140 g/L, a level that is above contemporary definitions of anemia, predicted long-term MACE.     

Effect of anemia on short- and long-term outcome in patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndromes

Anemia is common in hospitalized cardiac patients and is associated with adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify the association of anemia with early and long-term outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). Included were 5,304 consecutive patients (73% men, 61 ± 12 years of age) admitted to a coronary care unit from 1985 through 2008 for ACS. According to the World Health Organization, anemia was defined as serum hemoglobin levels <13 g/dl for men and <12 g/dl for women. Anemia was divided into tertiles to compare mild, moderate, and severe anemia to nonanemia. For trend analyses the study population was categorized in 3 groups: 1985 to 1990, 1991 to 2000, and 2001 to 2008. Outcome measurements were all-cause mortality at 30-days and 20 years. Anemia was present in 2,016 patients (38%), of whom 655 had mild anemia, 717 moderate anemia, and 646 severe anemia. Median follow-up duration was 10 years (range 2 to 25). Compared to nonanemia, adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality at 30 days were 1.40 for moderate anemia (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04 to 1.87) and 1.67 for severe anemia (95% CI 1.25 to 2.24). At 20 years HRs were 1.13 for moderate anemia (95% CI 1.01 to 1.27) and 1.39 for severe anemia (95% CI 1.23 to 1.56). In addition, survival during hospitalization improved over time. Compared to 1985 to 1990 adjusted HRs were 0.52 for 1991 to 2000 (95% CI 0.41 to 0.66) and 0.36 for 2001 to 2008 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.51). In conclusion, presence and severity of anemia is an important predictor of higher in-hospital and long-term mortality after ACS. In addition, since the 1980s in-hospital outcome of patients with ACS and anemia has improved.     

Anemia and decline in physical performance among older persons

PURPOSE: Anemia is prevalent in old age and is potentially modifiable, but its effects on physical function have not been determined. We examined whether anemia in older persons increases the risk of subsequent decline in physical function, as measured by objective performance-based tests. METHODS: Participants in this 4-year prospective cohort study included 1146 participants, aged 71 years or older, living in Iowa and Washington counties, Iowa. Anemia was defined according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria as a hemoglobin concentration below 12 g/dL in women and below 13 g/dL in men. An assessment of standing balance, a timed 2.4-m walk, and a timed test of five chair rises were used to assess physical performance; these were combined into a 0 (poor) to 12 (excellent) summary scale. RESULTS: After adjustment for baseline performance score, health status, and demographic characteristics, anemia was associated with greater mean decline in physical performance over 4 years; the adjusted mean decline was 2.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7 to 2.8) in subjects with anemia and 1.4 (95% CI: 1.2 to 1.5) in those without anemia (P = 0.003). The association between anemia and greater physical decline was also present in participants who were free of diseases associated with anemia (cancer, infectious disease, and renal failure), and after adjustment for serum cholesterol, iron, and albumin levels. Persons with borderline anemia, a hemoglobin concentration within 1 g/dL above the WHO criteria, also showed greater mean physical decline (1.8; 95% CI: 1.5 to 2.2) than did those with higher hemoglobin concentrations (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that anemia in old age is an independent risk factor for decline in physical performance.     

Types of anemia and mortality among older disabled women living in the community: the Women's Health and Aging Study I

AIMS: To classify the different types of anemia among moderately to severely disabled women living in the community and examine the relationship between types of anemia and mortality. METHODS: We studied anemia in 688 women, >or=65 years, in the Women's Health and Aging Study I, a population based study of moderately to severely disabled older women living in the community in Baltimore, Maryland. Anemia was defined by World Health Organization criteria. Causes of anemia were classified as due to nutritional deficiencies (iron, folate, and B12 deficiencies), anemia of chronic inflammation, anemia with renal disease, and unexplained anemia. RESULTS: 147 of 688 (21.4%) women were anemic (hemoglobin <12 g/dL). Of the 147 anemic women, 22 (15.0%) had anemia due to nutritional causes, 45 (30.6%) had anemia due to chronic inflammation, 29 (19.7%) had anemia and renal disease, and 51 (34.7%) had unexplained anemia. The proportions of those who died over five years among non-anemic women and women with anemia due to nutritional causes, chronic inflammation, renal disease, and unexplained anemia were 26.1%, 18.2%, 38.6%, 64.3%, and 33.3%, respectively (p<0.0001). Compared with non-anemic women, those with anemia and renal disease (HR 1.99, 95% CI 1.18-3.35, p=0.009) and anemia of chronic inflammation (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.00-2.84, p=0.05) had higher risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia is common among moderately to severely disabled older women living in the community, and about one-third of the anemia is unexplained. Anemia with renal disease and anemia of chronic inflammation are associated with a higher mortality.     

What Constitutes Normal Hemoglobin Concentration in Community‐Dwelling Disabled Older Women?

OBJECTIVES: To examine the associations between hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and (1) 5-year all-cause mortality and (2) serum erythropoietin (EPO), as the basis for the identification of data-driven thresholds, and to assess the clinical relevance of mildly low Hb. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Population based. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling women aged 65 and older with moderate-to-severe disability--Women's Health and Aging Study I, Baltimore, Maryland, 1992-2000. METHODS: Proportional hazards regression was used to model the relationship between baseline Hb (available for 686 subjects) and time to death. A generalized linear model was used to assess the cross-sectional association between Hb and EPO in 641 subjects. RESULTS: A curvilinear slope of steady mortality decrease up to the Hb threshold of 13.9 g/dL was observed. Hb of 11 g/dL was independently associated with greater mortality than the World Health Organization (WHO) low-normal cutoff of Hb of 12 g/dL (hazard ratio (HR)=1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.1-1.4), whereas Hb of 14 g/dL was linked to 24% lower mortality (HR=0.76, 95% CI=0.63-0.92), after comprehensive adjustment for major health status and disease-burden indicators. A curvilinear, statistically significant slope of steady EPO decrease with increasing Hb up to the threshold of 14.3 g/dL was consistently observed. CONCLUSION: The meaningfully lower mortality risk with higher Hb levels provides empirical evidence against the notion that Hb currently perceived as mildly low is clinically benign. Furthermore, the mortality risk gradient observed even within the WHO normal Hb range suggests that Hb levels higher than what is currently recommended might offer clinical advantage. The relationship between Hb and EPO provided supporting physiological evidence for this hypothesis.     

Anemia in patients with heart failure: prevalence and prognostic role in a controlled trial and in clinical practice

BACKGROUND: Aims of the present study were (1) to confirm the prognostic role of anemia in patients with heart failure (HF) and (2) to analyze this aspect in relatively unselected patients with HF monitored prospectively in a community setting (IN-CHF), and in patients selected for enrollment into the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial (Val-HeFT). METHODS AND RESULTS: In both Val-HeFT and IN-CHF Registry, anemia was defined as a hemoglobin (Hb) level < or = 11 g/dL in women and < or = 12 g/dL in men. Of the 2411 patients of the IN-CHF Registry, 15.5% had anemia, whereas in the 5010 patients of the Val-HeFT trial, the prevalence was 9.9%. In the IN-CHF registry, 1-year all-cause mortality was significantly higher in anemic patients (25.9%) than in patients without anemia (13.2%) (P < .0001). The association of anemia with mortality was confirmed by the multivariable analysis (hazard ratio [HR] 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-1.97). The risk of death decreased by 9.7% for each gram of Hb. The Val-HeFT trial showed an all-cause mortality rate for anemic patients of 29.6% over a mean follow-up period of 22.4 months versus 18.5% (P < .0001) in patients without anemia. After adjustment, anemia retained its negative independent prognostic role (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.04-1.52). When Hb was considered as a continuous variable, the risk of death decreased by 7.8% for each gram of Hb. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia was confirmed to be an independent negative prognostic factor in patients with HF. This finding is consistent in 2 different clinical contexts, a controlled trial and a registry in clinical practice, in which patient characteristics and outcome are largely different.     

Anemia in old age is associated with increased mortality and hospitalization

BACKGROUND: Anemia is common in old age and has been shown to affect older persons' physical function. To more fully understand the detrimental health effects of anemia, we examined the relationship of anemia with death and hospitalization outcomes in a large community-based sample of older persons. METHODS: Data are from 3607 persons, aged 71 years or older, participating in the National Institute on Aging (NIA)-sponsored Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE) study. Anemia was defined according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria as a hemoglobin concentration below 12 g/dL in women and below 13 g/dL in men. Data on subsequent mortality and hospital admissions over 4 years were obtained from death records and the Medicare database. RESULTS: Anemia was present in 451 of the 3607 (12.5%) participants. During the follow-up period, anemic persons were more likely to die than were nonanemic persons (37.0% vs 22.1%, p<.001). Also, anemic persons were more often hospitalized (65.9% vs 54.6%, p<.001) and spent more days in hospital (25.0 vs 13.7, p<.001). After adjustment for demographics and baseline comorbidities, anemia significantly predicted subsequent mortality and hospitalization (relative risk=1.61, 95% confidence interval, 1.34-1.93; and relative risk=1.27, 95% confidence interval, 1.12-1.45, respectively). After excluding persons with prevalent diseases at baseline, anemia remained significantly associated with increased risks of mortality and hospitalization. A higher hemoglobin level was significantly associated with lower risks of mortality and hospitalization (p for trend<.001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that late-life anemia characterizes persons at risk for important clinical health outcomes, and demonstrate the importance of clinical awareness of anemia even if the person is without apparent clinical disease.     

Serum uric acid and long-term mortality from stroke, coronary heart disease and all causes.

BACKGROUND: Increased serum uric acid (SUA) levels are linked to obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes and hypertension. Whether SUA carries a risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke remains uncertain. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. METHODS: Of an original cohort of middle-aged workers who were examined in 1963 and followed-up for 23 years, 9125 men, free of CHD at entry, are included in this study. Subjects were divided into quintiles according to baseline SUA levels. Hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause, CHD, and stroke mortality were estimated in SUA quintiles, with the third serving as a referent. RESULTS: During follow-up, 2893 deaths were recorded, including 830 ascribed to CHD and 292 to stroke. The HR for all death [1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-1.37] and CHD (1.29, 95% CI 1.05-1.58) were increased in the upper SUA quintile. Fatal stroke showed a U-shaped relationship as both the upper (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.02-2.17) and bottom (HR 1.43, 95% CI 0.99-2.08) quintiles were associated with a higher risk. Adjustment for confounders reduced the HR of the upper quintile for all outcomes, but did not attenuate the association of the bottom quintile with stroke (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.04-2.23). When analysed separately by stroke type, the latter association seemed to be stronger for hemorrhagic (HR 3.27, 95% CI 1.14-9.33) than for ischemic stroke (HR 1.34, 95% CI 0.87-2.05). CONCLUSION: In addition to findings supporting increased mortality among hyperuricemic subjects, we identified an association between low SUA levels and fatal stroke, which deserves further investigation.     

In-hospital Acquired Anemia in Acute Coronary Syndrome. Predictors, In-hospital Prognosis and One-year Mortality

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Anemia at hospital admission predicts a poor outcome in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome. It remains unclear whether in-hospital hemoglobin levels decrease (nosocomial anemia) not related to bleeding also implies a poor prognosis. We aimed to identify predictors of nosocomial anemia and its prognostic significance. METHODS: We prospectively included 221 acute coronary syndrome patients admitted in our institution during the years 2009-2010, with normal hemoglobin levels at admission. Nosocomial anemia was defined as a decrease in hemoglobin levels to <13?g/dL in men and <12?g/dL in women in the absence of apparent bleeding. Clinical variables and hematological inflammatory parameters were assessed in order to identify predictors for the development of nosocomial anemia. We compared the clinical outcome after a 1-year follow-up period of patients without anemia as opposed to those who developed nosocomial anemia. RESULTS: Nosocomial anemia was registered in 25% of study patients. A >3.1mg/dL value of C-reactive protein was highly predictive of developing nosocomial anemia (odds ratio=5.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.6-13.4; P<.001). The incidence of mortality and cardio-vascular morbidity was higher in the patients who developed nosocomial anemia (34.5% vs 9%; P<.001). Nosocomial anemia was a strong predictor of cardio-vascular morbidity and mortality in the long-term follow-up (hazard ratio=2.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.23-4.96; P=.01). CONCLUSIONS: Nosocomial anemia predicts a poorer outcome in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Increased C-reactive protein levels, indicating inflammatory state, are predictive of developing in-hospital anemia unrelated to apparent bleeding. Full English text available from:www.revespcardiol.org.     

Impact of anemia on hospitalization and mortality in older adults

Although anemia is common in older adults, its prognostic significance is uncertain. A total of 17 030 community-dwelling subjects 66 years and older were identified between July 1 and December 31, 2001, and followed until December 31, 2004. Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed to determine the associations between anemia (defined as hemoglobin < 110 g/L) and hemoglobin and all-cause mortality, all-cause hospitalization, and cardiovascular-specific hospitalization. Overall, there were 1983 deaths and 7278 first hospitalizations. In patients with normal kidney function, adjusting for age, sex, diabetes mellitus, and comorbidity, anemia was associated with an increased risk for death (hazard ratio [HR], 4.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.55-5.12), first all-cause hospitalization (HR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.88-2.48), and first cardiovascular-specific hospitalization (HR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.99-3.12). An inverse J-shaped relationship between hemoglobin and all-cause mortality was observed; the lowest risk for mortality occurred at hemoglobin values between 130 to 150 g/L for women and 140 to 170 g/L for men. Anemia is associated with an increased risk for hospitalization and death in community-dwelling older adults. Consideration should be given to redefine "normal" hemoglobin values in the elderly. Clinical trials are also necessary to determine whether anemia correction improves quality or quantity of life in this population.     

The interaction among sex, hemoglobin and outcomes in a specialty heart failure clinic

PURPOSE: Although anemia has recently been demonstrated to be a marker for poor outcomes in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), the impact of sex on the prevalence and prognostic impact of anemia has not been adequately explored. Accordingly, the relationship among sex, anemia and outcomes in CHF was analyzed. SUBJECTS: Patients seen at a specialty CHF clinic from 1989 to 2001. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was performed using chi2 and Student's t tests to determine the association between anemia and mortality. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to measure the independent association of anemia with mortality in men and women. The World Health Organization definition of anemia (less than 130 g/L for men; less than 120 g/L for women) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition of anemia (less than 135 g/L for men, less than 120 g/L for women) were used, and hemoglobin was assessed as a continuous variable. RESULTS: There were 791 patients with CHF seen over a 12-year period (median age 69 years, median hemoglobin of 131 g/L [interquartile range 119 to 144 g/L]) and 34% were women. The demographics and treatments were similar for men and women, except that women were older (69 years versus 65 years, P<0.001), more likely to have a nonischemic etiology of CHF (P<0.001) or diastolic dysfunction (P<0.001), and lower creatinine clearances (P<0.001). Forty per cent of men and 35% of women were anemic using the World Health Organization definition. Anemia was associated with a one-year and five-year excess mortality in men (adjusted OR 1.7 [1.1 to 2.5] and 1.76 [1.2 to 2.7], respectively), but this was not observed in women (adjusted OR 1.2 [0.7 to 2.2] and 1.2 [0.7 to 2.1], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Anemia is prevalent in heart failure and predicts mortality in men but not in women. Given this result, the authors recommend that randomized trials evaluating novel therapies for the correction of anemia in patients with heart failure should stratify their randomization by sex.     

Triglycerides + high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol dyslipidaemia, a coronary risk factor in elderly women: the CArdiovascular STudy in the ELderly

BACKGROUND: The relationship between serum triglycerides (TG) level and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality remains controversial. AIMS: To evaluate whether TG level is a risk factor for CHD in elderly people from general population, and to look for interactions between TG and other risk factors. METHODS: 3257 subjects aged >or= 65 years followed up for 12 years from the CArdiovascular STudy in the ELderly. Blood tests and anthropometric measurements were performed. Continuous items were divided into quintiles and, for each quintile, adjusted hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for CHD mortality was derived by genders from Cox analysis. RESULTS: In women, the HR of being in the fifth rather than in the first quintile of TG was 2.45 (CI 1.48-3.51). In turn, high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) inversely predicted CHD mortality; the HR of being in the first rather than in the fifth quintiles of HDL-C was 1.52 (CI 1.24-2.36). The risk of CHD mortality further increased up to 3.81 (CI 1.62-5.43) when high TG and low HDL-C were combined. No predictive role for either TG or HDL-C was detected in men. CONCLUSIONS: TG and HDL-C were independent predictors of CHD mortality in elderly women. The combination high TG + low HDL-C quadrupled the risk of CHD mortality in this gender only.     

Pulmonary function is a long-term predictor of mortality in the general population: 29-year follow-up of the Buffalo Health Study

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Results from several studies have described a relationship between pulmonary function and both all-cause and cause-specific mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive value of pulmonary function by gender after 29 years of follow-up. DESIGN: Prospective study with 29-year follow-up of the Buffalo Health Study cohort. PARTICIPANTS: Randomly selected sample of 554 men and 641 women, aged 20 to 89 years, from all listed households of the city of Buffalo, NY. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Baseline measurements were performed in 1960 to 1961. Pulmonary function was assessed based on FEV(1) expressed as the normal percent predicted (FEV(1)%pred). FEV(1)%pred adjusted by age, body mass index, systolic BP, education, and smoking status was inversely related to all-cause mortality in both men and women (p<0.01). A sequential survival analysis in participants who had a survival time of at least 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years after enrollment in the study was also performed. Except for men who survived for > 25 years, we observed a statistically significant negative association between FEV(1)%pred and all-cause mortality. FEV(1)%pred was also inversely related to ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality. When participants were divided into quintiles of FEV(1)%pred, participants in the lowest quintile of FEV(1)%pred experienced significantly higher all-cause mortality compared with participants in the highest quintile of FEV(1)%pred. For the entire follow-up period, the adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality were 2.24 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60 to 3.13) for men and 1. 81 (95% CI, 1.24 to 2.63) for women, respectively. Hazard ratios for death from IHD in the lowest quintile of FEV(1)%pred were 2.11 (95% CI, 1.20 to 3.71) and 1.96 (95% CI, 0.99 to 3.88) for men and women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that pulmonary function is a long-term predictor for overall survival rates in both genders and could be used as a tool in general health assessment.     

贫血对经皮冠状动脉介入治疗远期预后的影响

目的 了解贫血对接受经皮冠状动脉(冠脉)介入治疗(PCI)冠心病患者远期预后的影响.方法 2003年7月至2005年9月接受单纯PCI治疗冠心病患者3809例,诊断为贫血患者744例,无贫血患者3065例.比较两组患者的临床特点、术后病死率和主要心脑血管不良事件(MACCE)的发生情况.平均随访548 d.结果 贫血患者除具有年龄较大,女性、糖尿病、脑血管病史、慢性肾功能不全病史、急性冠脉综合征比例、肌酐水平偏高以及左室射血分数较低的特点外,冠脉3支病变的比例明显高于无贫血患者(30.9%比21.5%,P＜0.001),而且完全血管重建率低(70.0%比73.9%,P=0.034),术后病死率(4.7%比1.5%,P＜0.001)和MACCE发生率(14.0%比10.8%,P=0.014)均明显增高.多因素Cox回归分析显示,PCI术前贫血是影响病死率的独立预测因素,而对MACCE事件元显著影响.结论 PCI术前贫血是影响病死率的独立预测因素.     

Low Hemoglobin Levels and Recurrent Falls in U.S. Men and Women: Prospective Findings from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Cohort

BackgroundThere are few data available on low hemoglobin and incident falls in the general U.S. population.MethodsOf 30,239 black and white U.S. adults ≥45 years in the population-based REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study, 16,782 had hemoglobin measured at baseline and follow-up data on falls. Hemoglobin was categorized by 1.0 g/dL increments relative to the World Health Organization anemia threshold (<13.0 g/dL for men, <12.0 g/dL for women). Recurrent falls (≥2 falls in the 6 months after baseline) were assessed during a telephone interview.ResultsRecurrent falls occurred in 3.9% of men and 4.8% of women. Compared with those with a hemoglobin level 1 to 2 g/dL above the anemia cut-off, multivariable adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for recurrent falls associated with hemoglobin levels ≥3, 2 to <3 and 0 to 1 g/dL above the cut-off point, and 0 to <1 and ≥1 g/dL below the cut-off point were 0.73 (0.45–1.19), 0.84 (0.57–1.24), 1.29 (0.88–1.90), 1.32 (0.0.80–1.2.18) and 2.12 (1.23–3.63), respectively, among men (linear trend P < 0.001), and 1.59 (1.10–2.3), 1.24 (0.95–1.62), 1.42(1.11–1.81), 1.28 (0.91–1.80) and 1.76 (1.13–2.74), respectively, among women (linear trend P = 0.45; quadratic trend P = 0.016).ConclusionsAmong men, lower hemoglobin levels were associated with an increased risk for recurrent falls. Although our findings suggest an increased risk for recurrent falls at both lower and higher hemoglobin levels among women, these findings should be confirmed in subsequent studies.