SERUM-CHOLESTEROL LEVELS AS A MEASURE OF FRAILTY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

The authors evaluated the association between serum cholesterol levels and social, clinical, and functional characteristics in 637 elderly h ospitalized patients (mean age = 79.1 years, range = 65-97) from the G eriatric Evaluation and Rehabilitation Unit (GERU) at P. Richiedei Hos pital in Gussago, Brescia (Italy). Patients consecutively admitted to the GERU during an 18-month period underwent a multidimensional evalua tion inducing information on demographics, cognitive status, physical health (number of chronic diseases and administered drugs), functional disability, and nutritional status. Mean cholesterol levels were sign ificantly lower in men; persons living with others; older individuals; and individuals with cognitive impairment, poorer somatic health, hig her disability, and a higher level of malnutrition. Lower serum choles terol levels may be considered an independent hematologic marker of fr ailty in elderly hospitalized patients.