Myeloperoxidase levels and mortality in frail community-living elderly individuals.
BACKGROUND
Elevated systemic levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) have been associated with unfavourable clinical outcomes. In the present study, we evaluate the impact of MPO, a pro-oxidant enzyme that catalyzes the initiation of lipid peroxidation and affects nitric oxide levels, on the risk of all-cause mortality in a large population of frail octogenarians and nonagenarians living in community.


METHODS
We analyzed data from the Aging and Longevity Study in the Sirente Geographic Area (ilSIRENTE Study), a prospective cohort study that collected data on all individuals aged 80 years and older living in a mountain community (n = 363). The main outcome measure was the risk of death after 4 years of follow-up. Participants were divided into three groups based on MPO tertiles: lower tertile < or = 61.5 microg/L (n = 120), intermediate tertile 61.6-140.6 microg/L (n = 120), and higher tertile > or = 140.7 microg/L (n = 123).


RESULTS
A total of 150 deaths occurred during 4-years follow-up. The mean MPO level was 170.8 + or - 177.5 microg/L among those who died compared with 135.4 + or - 142.4 microg/L among survivors (p = .03). Individuals in the highest MPO tertile had higher risk of mortality (40% [60/123]) compared with those in the lower tertile (26% [39/120]). After adjusting for potential confounders, compared with participants in the lower tertile, those in the higher tertile had a hazard ratio for mortality of 1.97 (95% confidence interval: 1.02-3.80).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results obtained from a representative sample of very old and frail elderly individuals expand the knowledge that low levels of MPO are associated with better survival.
Giovannini
Silvia
S
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. sgiovannini@aging.ufl.edu
Onder
Graziano
G
Leeuwenburgh
Christiaan
C
Carter
Christy
C
Marzetti
Emanuele
E
Russo
Andrea
A
Capoluongo
Ettore
E
Pahor
Marco
M
Bernabei
Roberto
R
Landi
Francesco
F
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D009195:Peroxidase