Association between plasma homocysteine levels and mortality in elderly patients with mental illness.
METHODS
Total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) concentration is elevated in elderly patients with mental illness. Plasma tHcy is known to be associated with cardiovascular disease, renal impairment and negative lifestyle factors, and has been shown to predict mortality in human subjects. Epidemiological data on this topic in elderly patients with mental illness are missing. We therefore investigated the association between plasma tHcy levels and mortality in these patients.


RESULTS
The group of deceased patients showed higher age, higher plasma tHcy, lower renal function and lower serum folate than patients who were still alive. Only age, plasma tHcy and the presence of vascular disease significantly influenced mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between plasma tHcy level and mortality risk was probably explained in part by the two plasma tHcy determinants age and presence of vascular disease. The determination of plasma tHcy in elderly patients with mental illness may help to identify patients in need of more intensive treatment.
Nilsson
Karin
K
Department of Psychogeriatrics, Division of Clinical Science, Lund University Hospital, SE-22185 Lund, Sweden.
Gustafson
Lars
L
Hultberg
Björn
B
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12