title: Serum cholesterol levels as a measure of frailty in elderly patients.
abstract: The authors evaluated the association between serum cholesterol levels and social, clinical, and functional characteristics in 637 elderly hospitalized patients (mean age = 79.1 years, range = 65-97) from the Geriatric Evaluation and Rehabilitation Unit (GERU) at P. Richiedei Hospital in Gussago, Brescia (Italy). Patients consecutively admitted to the GERU during an 18-month period underwent a multidimensional evaluation including information on demographics, cognitive status, physical health (number of chronic diseases and administered drugs), functional disability, and nutritional status. Mean cholesterol levels were significantly lower in men; persons living with others; older individuals; and individuals with cognitive impairment, poorer somatic health, higher disability, and a higher level of malnutrition. Lower serum cholesterol levels may be considered an independent hematologic marker of frailty in elderly hospitalized patients.
authors.affiliation: richiede@master.cci.unibs.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ranieri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rozzini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franzoni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barbisoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trabucchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol