Reduced survival with increasing plasma osmolality in elderly continuing-care patients.
The results reported here are from a 2-year follow-up study of 58 elderly patients in a continuing-care unit. Most of these patients were in a hyperosmolar state at the time of entry (mean plasma osmolality 304 +/- 8 mOsmol/kg). The survival of those patients with the highest osmolality (greater than 308 mOsmol/kg) was significantly reduced (p = 0.025), with an increased mortality at 2 years (15/20 patients, p = 0.053). There was no correlation between age and plasma osmolality (r = 0.02) and the effect of osmolality on survival was independent of age. Hyperosmolality was either a marker for, or a cause of, increased mortality in this group of frail elderly patients.
O'Neill
P A
PA
Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospital of South Manchester.
Faragher
E B
EB
Davies
I
I
Wears
R
R
McLean
K A
KA
Fairweather
D S
DS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001790:Blood Physiological Phenomena; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003681:Dehydration / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000502:physiology*