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Hematopoietic Capacity and Exceptional Survival: The Leiden Longevity Study
Author(s) -
Willems Jorien M.,
Trompet Stella,
Eline Slagboom P.,
De Craen Anton J.M.,
Westendorp Rudi G.J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01933.x
Subject(s) - medicine , longevity , haematopoiesis , gerontology , stem cell , genetics , biology
OBJECTIVES: To assess whether familial longevity can be attributed to sustained hematopoietic capacity. DESIGN: Prospective follow‐up study of two independent population‐based cohorts. SETTING: The Leiden Longevity Study and the Leiden 85‐plus Study. PARTICIPANTS: From the Leiden Longevity Study, 1,001 nonagenarians with familial longevity were included. As age‐matched controls, 260 nonagenarians without familial longevity were used from the Leiden 85‐plus Study. MEASUREMENTS: Hemoglobin, leukocytes, and thrombocytes were measured for all subjects with and without familial longevity. Standardized mortality ratios, linear regression, and left‐censored Cox regression were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Mortality in nonagenarians with familial longevity was 28% lower than in nonagenarians from the general population (standardized mortality ratio=0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.65–0.79, P <.001). No differences were found between hemoglobin, leukocyte, and thrombocyte count in nonagenarians with and without familial longevity (all P >.30). Nonagenarians with familial longevity had greater mortality risk when anemia was present (sex‐adjusted hazard ratio=1.71, 95% CI 1.41–2.07, P <.001). No relationship was found between leukocytes, thrombocytes, and mortality in either study group (all P >.20). CONCLUSION: Hematopoietic capacity cannot explain the significantly better survival of nonagenarians with familial longevity, but in those with familial longevity, anemia may contribute to mortality.