RESTING VENOUS PLASMA ADRENALINE IN 70-YEAR-OLD MEN CORRELATED POSITIVELY TO SURVIVAL IN A POPULATION STUDY - THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PHYSICAL WORKING CAPACITY

Objective. The aim of the study was to evaluate plasma noradrenalin (N A) and plasma adrenalin (A) as predictors of mortality in a population study. Subjects. All subjects were 70 years of age in 1984. They were selected from the National Person Register, Altogether, 804 subjects participated in a comprehensive medical examination. Interventions. Pl asma NA and A were measured in blood samples collected after the subje cts had rested in the supine position for 15 min. The subjects have no w been followed for 7 years. Main outcome measures. Seven years later, 115 men and 63 women had died. Results. Cox regression analysis showe d that the mortality in the male group was positively correlated to pl asma NA (P < 0.002) and inversely correlated to forced vital capacity (P < 0.0000) and plasma A (P < 0.02). A positive correlation was obtai ned between physical working capacity and plasma A. When an index of p hysical working capacity was included in the Cox regression analysis, both plasma NA and plasma A became insignificant, whereas a strong pos itive correlation appeared between physical working capacity and survi val (P < 0.0000). Those who had low plasma A values in 1984 tended to die from cardiovascular diseases in the follow-up period, whereas in t hose who died from cancer, plasma A values were similar to those of th e general population. Conclusions. Subjects with high plasma A values had the best survival rate during the 7 year follow-up period, probabl y because they also had the best physical working capacity. High plasm a NA values, as expected, were associated with a reduced survival rate . Measurements of physical working capacity may be an inexpensive meas ure of probable survival in 70-year-old subjects.