title: Reduced survival with increasing plasma osmolality in elderly continuing-care patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospital of South Manchester.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Faragher
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wears
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Fairweather
mesh_terms: 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*