Low Lymphocyte Levels Correlate with Greater Mortality in Late Life

This study sought to (1) determine the associations among lymphocyte levels, other immunohematologic parameters, and survival and (2) establish the extent to which the associated risk of these variables is additive. In this large cohort of adults, we found that lymphopenia was associated with mortality risk independently of traditional clinical risk factors and other immunohematologic variables (red blood cell distribution width and C-reactive protein level). Individuals with multiple immunohematologic abnormalities had a strikingly high risk of mortality among this generally low-risk population. Approximately 20% of the general US population appears to have a high-risk immunohematologic profile, and these participants' 10-year mortality was 28%, compared with 4% in participants in the present study with a low-risk profile. The risk associated with this immunohematologic pattern is independent of (and thus additive to) traditional clinical risk factors. Together, these data suggest that immunohematologic risk may be viewed as a multidimensional entity and can be estimated using markers commonly available as part of routine clinical care. We believe the results presented herein add to the growing body of evidence that immune status is associated with cardiovascular and noncardiovascular disease. Previous observational and prospective trials suggest that participants with overt or subacute inflammatory diseases have elevated risk of atherothrombotic disease, heart failur...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs