title: [Prediction of serum albumin levels by non-invasive factors among elderly female patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To apply nutrition care management to elderly female patients, we predicted serum albumin (s-Alb) levels by non-invasive factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  After excluding patients with lesions/diseases which were directly related to s-Alb levels, we investigated 147 elderly women aged 75-years or over who were taking meals orally and were hospitalized from April 2008 to April 2009 at a hospital in Toyota. The patients were classified into 2 groups, one of patients with s-Alb levels of 3.5 g/dl or below (n=80), and the other of those with s-Alb levels of over 3.5 g/dl (n=67). Between the 2 groups, we examined differences in age, body mass index (BMI), living arrangements, necessary nursing care level (NNCL), bed confinement level (BCL), OH scale level (OHSL), and dietary intake either by the Student t-test, Mann-Whitney U test or chi-square test. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated among s-Alb levels and selected variables. Taking into account the correlation coefficients, we conducted multiple regression analysis adopting the s-Alb level as a dependent variable and non-invasive factors as independent variables. For all the performed tests and analyses, a p value of less than 0.05 (on two-tailed analysis) was assumed to represent a statistically significant difference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  S-Alb level was significantly associated with variables, including age, BMI, NNCL, BCL, OHSL, and percentage of protein intake (PPI). Multiple regression analysis revealed 4 significant variables: age, BCL, OHSL, and PPI. The multiple regression equation was y=4.977-(0.098×OHSL)-(0.080×BCL)-(0.016×age)+(0.003×PPI), and the multiple correlation coefficient R(2) was 0.398 (p <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S-Alb levels among elderly female patients may be predicted by 4 non-invasive variables: age, BCL, OHSL, and PPI.
authors: JA Aichi Anjo Kosei Hospital.
authors: Miki
authors: M
authors: Kinoshita
authors: Yuko
authors: Y
authors: Tokudome
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Takagi
authors: Shinji
authors: S
authors: Kato
authors: Yoshihiro
authors: Y
authors: Hotta
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin