LABORATORY VALUES, SYMPTOMS AND SURVIVAL IN AN 80-YEAR-OLD POPULATION

Medical, psychological and sociological factors were related to labora tory values in an 80-year-old population encompassing 211 persons, 21% of the men and 17% of the women had elevated ESR, 36% had elevated bl ood glucose (7% had diabetes), 13% of the men and 7% of the women had anaemia. Persons with anaemia generally had a lower quality of life co mpared with non-anaemic persons. Low haemoglobin, elevated ESR and low serum iron were all associated with impaired subjective and objective health. There were no significant correlations between the laboratory data and psychological and social parameters. The survival over 5 yea rs was significantly decreased for those with anaemia, elevated ESR, h igh white blood count, high blood glucose, low serum iron or deviating serum potassium