Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and risk for mortality among older Taiwanese.
OBJECTIVE
Studies based on Western populations showed a negative relationship between dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) level and mortality, but no study examined this relationship in a non-Western country. We use data from a large, nationally representative sample (n = 963) of older Taiwanese to investigate whether serum DHEAS, predicts subsequent mortality during a 3-year period (2000 to 2003) and whether an effect remains after controlling for baseline health status.


METHODS
Baseline data collection included an individual interview, physical examination, and blood sample. A logit model is used to test the relationship between DHEAS level and risk for mortality, controlling for age, sex, and smoking status.


RESULTS
Results show a marginally significant inverse relationship between DHEAS level and 3-year mortality risk. Participants with low DHEAS levels (<54.5 microg/dL) have 64% greater odds of dying than those with higher DHEAS levels (p < 0.06). After adjusting for various indicators of health status in 2000, the odds ratio (OR) for low DHEAS level remains substantial (OR = 1.41), but not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the analysis is limited by the short follow-up and small number of deaths, results are consistent with the notion that DHEAS level has a sizeable effect on mortality.
Glei
Dana A
DA
Department of Demography, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. danaglei@pacbell.net
Goldman
Noreen
N
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015984:Causality; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000208:ethnology
D015415:Biomarkers; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate