Classification of ≥80-year-old individuals into healthy, moderately healthy, and frail based on different frailty scores affects the interpretation of laboratory results

Authors

  • Maria Edvardsson Philosophy Doctor, Department of Local Health Care in Finspång, Department of Health Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3119-4560
  • Märta Sund Levander Senior Associate Professor, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Division of Prevention, Rehabilitation and Community Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1281-885X
  • Anna Milberg Senior Associate Professor, Department of Advanced Home Care in Norrköping, and Department of Health, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8828-0702
  • Jan Ernerudh Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences and Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9456-2044
  • Ewa Wressle Assistant Professor, Department of Acute Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7669-0939
  • Jan Marcusson Associate Professor, Department of Acute Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6452-3930
  • Ewa Grodzinsky Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v13i9.45298

Keywords:

Aging; Frail elderly; Analyte; Reference interval; Clinical interpretation

Abstract

Background: Interpretation laboratory analyses are crucial when assessing the patient’s condition. Reference intervals from apparently healthy and disease-free individuals may cause problems when outcomes from elderly patients with chronic diseases and on medications are being interpreted. Elderly individuals are a heterogeneous group ranging from individuals managing their daily life independently to individuals with diseases and impairment, in need of nursing care around the clock, that is, frail; a term widely used although there is no consensus on the definition.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to study the effect of classification of elderly into healthy, moderately healthy, and frail, based on activities of daily living (ADL) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) or frailty index (FI), on the interpretation of outcomes regarding: Albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, and gamma-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) levels.

Materials and Methods: Individuals ≥80 years (n=568) were classified either on ADL and MMSE or number of deficits, (FI).

Results: Individuals classified as frail based on FI had lower mean levels for ALT, creatinine and γ-GT than individuals classified based on ADL and MMSE (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The model to define health status to some extent affected laboratory analyte levels in ≥80 years old, classified as healthy, moderately healthy, and frail based on ADL and MMSE versus FI.

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Published

2022-09-01

How to Cite

Edvardsson, M., Sund Levander, M., Milberg, A. ., Ernerudh, J. ., Wressle, E. ., Marcusson, J., & Grodzinsky, E. . (2022). Classification of ≥80-year-old individuals into healthy, moderately healthy, and frail based on different frailty scores affects the interpretation of laboratory results. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, 13(9), 63–71. https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v13i9.45298

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 9 (2022)

Section

Original Articles

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Copyright (c) 2022 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences

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