Here - American Geriatrics Society

P OSTER
A BSTRACTS
measured by CURB65, Pneumonia Severity Index [PSI] and Charlson’s
Comorbid Index. Cases also had significantly more discharge
medications than controls (median of 12.36 and 10.53, p=. 009) and
were more likely to have received influenza vaccination in the year
prior to initial hospital admission (59% and 41%, p=.009).
Discussion: Among older adults, Braden Score was an objective,
strong predictor of readmission following pneumonia hospitalization.
The association between prior receipt of influenza vaccination and
increased likelihood of readmission was unexpected and warrants
further investigation.
B36
IS LENS TRANSPARENCY ASSOCIATED WITH
CARDIOVASCULAR OR METABOLIC DISEASE OR
COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN OLDER WOMEN? DEFINING A
NEW BIOMARKER OF AGING.
J. Sanders, A. Nau, Y. Conley, R. Boudreau, L. Niedernhofer,
L. Kuller, A. Newman. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Background: Few primary markers of aging are validated in
human population studies. The lens is of interest because transparency
can be measured accurately, noninvasively, and repeatedly
throughout life. To evaluate the lens as a biomarker of aging we
tested the association of lens transparency and cataract surgery to
markers of aging and disease including risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis,
coronary artery calcium (CAC), fasting plasma glucose
or insulin, cognitive function and ApoE genotype. Methods: We
measured lens transparency with Scheimpflug photography (N=136)
and cataract surgery with self-report (N=231) in participants of the
Healthy Women Study (mean (SD) age 73.3 (1.7) years). Atherosclerosis
risk factors (age, smoking, waist circumference, BMI, lipids,
blood pressure, fasting glucose and insulin, medication use) were
measured concurrently with lens transparency and 13 years previously.
CAC was measured with electron beam tomography at the
time of lens measurements and ~7, 10, and 13 years previously. Cognitive
indicators included the Modified Mini Mental Status Exam and
ApoE genotype. Results: Cross-sectionally, cataract surgery was associated
with larger waist circumference and diabetes (P