title: Laboratory values in a Spanish population of older adults: a comparison with reference values from younger adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the laboratory indices in a population aged 65 years or more and compare them with the reference values used for young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Distribution patterns of frequently used biochemical and hematological indices were examined in a sample (N=600) of non-institutionalized adults aged over 65.
  
  
  METHODS
  The obtained values were compared with the reference intervals for young adults.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On some of the indices analyzed, large proportions of the participants had values above the upper limit of the reference interval: glucose, 25.0%; urea, 26.6%; creatinine, 27.2% of males; total cholesterol, 54.6%; and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 35.8%. Of the participants who met the World Health Organization's diagnostic criteria for diabetes, 31.8% said they had not been previously diagnosed. Similarly, 74.9% of subjects with total cholesterol values above the reference value indicated in the European guidelines on cardiovascular disease said they had not been diagnosed with dyslipidemia, as did 75.5% of those with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol values above the European reference value. The proportion of participants who were not aware that they might be suffering from those disorders was significantly higher among those who reported not having visited their doctor within the last 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies should examine whether the use of adapted, more appropriate reference values for elderly populations will help physicians to make early and correct diagnoses and to decide when medical intervention is required.
authors.affiliation: Gerontology Research Group, Department of Medicine, University of A Coruña, Faculty of Health Sciences, Campus de Oza, E-15006 A Coruña, Spain. jcmillan@udc.es
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Millán-Calenti
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lorenzo-López
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maseda
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009819:Office Visits; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood*; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014508:Urea; D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine