Hematological and biochemical laboratory values in older Cardiovascular Health Study participants.
OBJECTIVE
To define reference hematologic and biochemical lab values in older individuals.


METHODS
Randomly selected, age- and gender-stratified participants.


METHODS
Visits by participants to four research clinics.


METHODS
A total of 5201 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study, an observational study of older Medicare-eligible individuals living at home.


METHODS
Information about health status, previous illness, and medication use was obtained from participants and/or their MDs. This information was used to define a healthy subset of the population. Blood samples were obtained for Cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, fasting and 2-hour postload glucose and insulin, fibrinogen, factors VII and VIII, potassium, creatinine, albumin, uric acid, white blood count, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and platelet count.


RESULTS
Significant differences were found for age group and/or gender for all mean values. Many tests were significantly different from the generally accepted reference ranges used in clinical laboratories.


CONCLUSIONS
In some situations accepted laboratory norms for the general population can not be extrapolated to older adults. There are implications for both research and clinical practice.
Robbins
J
J
Department of Medicine, University of California Davis 95817, USA.
Wahl
P
P
Savage
P
P
Enright
P
P
Powe
N
N
Lyles
M
M
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002140:California; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D010414:Pennsylvania; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics