Prognostic significance of serum cholesterol in nursing home men.
Serum cholesterol was measured in 129 men (average age 70.6; range 41-96) of a Veterans Administration Nursing Home, and was correlated with other items in an extensive clinical data base. Serum cholesterol was less than 150 mg/dl in 13% of the subjects, and was less than 160 mg/dl in 18%. Cholesterol greater than 280 mg/dl occurred in 8%. Serum cholesterol varied directly (p less than 0.02) with: body weight, serum albumin, serum total protein, serum sodium, ability to walk, and ability to feed oneself; and indirectly (p less than 0.02) with death rate, degree of functional dependence, and serum SGOT and LDH. Nursing home men with cholesterol less than 150 mg/dl had a death rate of 63% during the 14 months after the cholesterol analysis, compared to a death rate of 9% in men with cholesterol greater than 150 mg/dl (p less than 0.05). Death rate during the year after the analysis was 52% if cholesterol was below 160 mg/dl, compared to 7% if it was above this threshold (p less than 0.05).
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011379:Prognosis; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000097:blood
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol