SERUM-PROTEIN STATUS ACCORDING TO AGE AND DISEASE IN HOSPITALIZED ELDERLY

The diseased elderly, in particular those with a chronic disease, expe rience a protein-energy malnutrition. This study assessed the serum pr otein (total proteins, albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, and REP) stat us of 668 hospitalized patients aged 70 or more, at their admission to hospital, in reference to 104 healthy elderly of the same age and fro m the same region. Reduced values were found for all the indices studi ed. The differences between the two samples were marked for prealbumin (about 30% on average), noticeable for albumin, transferrin, and REP (approximately 20%), and moderate for totals proteins (about 10%). Tot al proteins, albumin, and prealbumin were negatively linked with age. Many people had a deficiency in prealbumin (57.9%), total proteins (57 .0%), transferrin (48.9%), albumin (45.4%), and in REP (37.4%). An odd s ratio of about 2 was found for the patients aged 80 or more for all indices in reference to the 70-74 year age group. The differences betw een patient groups with various diseases were markedly smaller than th ose between all the patients and the healthy people for all indices. W e concluded that the diseased elderly had reduced serum proteins. It w ould be a benefit to assess the nutritional status and to check up the daily food intake of patients in parallel to medical treatments. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.