Relationship between Serum Albumin Level and Aging in Community-Dwelling Self-Supported Elderly Population

Abstract

Summary While lower serum albumin concentration is often found in the elderly, a relation between serum albumin and age has not been fully elucidated. We conducted population-based cross-sectional and 5-y longitudinal study to examine the relation. A total of 22,705 male and 40,149 female, aged 65 y and older, living in Gifu, participated in the health check service conducted by Gifu City Medical Association. They were self-supported in the activity of daily living and 3,438 of them were followed up every year from 1999 to 2003. Serum albumin levels decreased with age in both men and women. In the cross-sectional study, median value declined from 4.3 g/dL in males aged 65-69 y to 3.9 g/dL in 90 Ͻ Ϫ y, and 4.3 g/dL to 4.0 g/dL in females. Incidence of hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin Ͻ Ϫ 3.5 g/dL) increased in parallel with age from 1.2% (65-69 y) to 6.6% (85-89) in males, and 0.6% to 4.1% in females. In the longitudinal study, regression analysis showed a significant decline in serum albumin of 0.015 g/dL per year ( r ϭϪ 0.716) in males, and 0.012 g/ dL per year ( r ϭϪ 0.794) in females. Relative reduction of serum albumin in 5 y was larger in advanced age; 1.2% in females aged 65-69 y and 3.1% in 85-89 y ( p Ͻ 0.05), but not in males. In conclusion, a fall in serum albumin concentration in community-dwelling, selfsupported elderly persons was associated significantly with aging.

Nutritional and Micronutrient Status of Elderly People Living in a Rural Community of Bangladesh

“…The current study showed significant association between older age and lower serum albumin which resembled that of the previous findings [27]. Age-related changes such as metabolic disorders, inadequate dietary intake, physical activity or disability and altered body composition are thought to be influenced by the serum albumin [27].…”

“…Age-related changes such as metabolic disorders, inadequate dietary intake, physical activity or disability and altered body composition are thought to be influenced by the serum albumin [27]. Other than that elderly are more vulnerable to trauma and infection which may influence in rapid reduction of serum albumin [27].…”

Synergistic Association of Serum Albumin and Globulin with Coronary Heart Disease

“…This difference might be explained by the different patterns of circulating proteins of humans between men and women 34) . The present study and a former population study found that a fall in serum albumin was associated with aging 35) . This might be because younger subjects had a better nutritional state than older cases.…”

Prognostic Factors for the Survival of Elderly Patients Who Were Hospitalized in the Medical Ward of Our Hospital in Japan

“…Additionally, Hypoalbuminemia is an indicator of nutritional assessment and prognostic prediction [15]. Serum albumin levels decline with age, and the proportion of patients with hypoalbuminemia [16,17], nosocomial infections [18], commensal pneumonia [19], cancer and sepsis [20], and pressure sores [21] has been used as risk factors for death. In recent years, it has been reported that a low serum albumin level is a risk factor for ischemic heart disease [22] and cerebral infarction [23], which greatly influences the prognosis and quality of life of the elderly.…”