Correlates of D-dimer in older persons

Background and aims: D-dimer is a marker of active fibrinolysis. Understanding how age-related factors affect D-dimer levels may help the interpretation of high D-dimer levels in older individuals. Methods: 776 Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging (BLSA) participants (mean age 68.4±13.9 yrs) were divided into three groups according to baseline D-dimer levels >200 ng/mL; 100–200 ng/mL and <100 ng/mL. Results: D-dimer level increased with age (p<0.0001). Using polychotomous logistic regression models, we found that age, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hemoglobin and body mass index were independently associated with D-dimer level. Conclusions: Rising levels of D-dimer with age can be explained in part by the high prevalence of pro-inflammatory conditions and increasing burden of lipid abnormalities, anemia and obesity. These factors compromise the specificity of D-dimer levels as a diagnostic aid to thrombosis in older individuals.