Seven-year large cohort study for the association of serum albumin level and aging among community dwelling elderly

Malnutrition has been widely regarded as a healthcare problem among elderly people. The serum albumin level is usually used to assess nutritional status, with less than 3.5g/dl of serum albumin concentration defined as ''hypoalbuminemia''. Low serum albumin level was related with poor health status among not only institutionalized or hospitalized elderly people, but also community-dwelling elderly people. Many studies have shown that even where the serum albumin level was within normal range, a lower albumin level was a reliable predictor of poor outcomes such as higher mortality, higher risk of cardiovascular disease 15) and functional decline in the future. Moreover, decreasing serum albumin level within normal range was associated with decline in muscle mass 18) and muscle strength resulting in impaired mobility and balance among elderly people. These investigations have suggested that decreasing serum albumin concentration among community dwelling elderly would be a sign of future Journal of Analytical Bio-Science Vol. 34, No 4 (2011)