Total cholesterol and disability in the hospitalised elderly: beyond cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether the total cholesterol levels predict recovery in basic activities of daily living. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted on 806 patients ≥ 60 years-old, admitted into an Acute Geriatric Unit between July 2013 and August 2015. The outcome was development of a disability assessed by a Barthel index ≤ 60 at four different times: 15 days before admission, on admission, at discharge, and 30 days afterwards. The total cholesterol was divided into quartiles. A record was made of the social and clinical demographic variables. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to predict disability and mortality, together with the Glimmix procedure for the longitudinal analysis and for the prediction of the total Barthel index. Results: The mean age of the patients was 82.3 ± 7.2 years, and 52% were women. In the multivariate analysis, disability was associated with an age ≥ 85 years, high comorbidity, social impairment, low plasma albumin, MMSE < 19, and delirium. The highest total cholesterol quartiles (Q2, Q3, Q4) had a lower risk for disability than the lowest quartile (Q1). The longitudinal analysis showed a decrease in the Barthel index in patients with a hospital stay of > 15 days, low plasma albumin, MMSE < 19, and delirium. The highest total cholesterol quartiles reach a higher Barthel index over time compared with the lowest quartile. The mortality was associated with a high comorbidity, a Barthel index ≤ 60 on admission, and MMSE < 19. The total cholesterol levels were not associated with mortality. Conclusions: The total cholesterol in the highest quartiles was associated with an improvement in the recovery of basic activities of daily living from 15 days before hospital admission up to 30 days after discharge compared with the lowest quartile (Q1).