Abstract

Background: The platelet indices like mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and plateletcrit (PCT) are a laboratory marker associated with platelet function and activity. We have tried to correlate and compare all these indices in elderly patients as far as psychosocial morbidity like cognition, frailty and depression are concerned.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study and it comprised 1000 consecutive elderly patients admitted for routine check-up in medicine department. Blood samples were taken to measure platelet indices like MPV, PDW and PCT. Cognition, frailty and depression were assessed by the Mini mental state examination, frail non disabled questionnaire and Geriatric Depression scale respectively.

Result: Patients with normal and high platelet count had a depression score of more than 5. [(p=0.0001, r=0.705) 2=811.21, p=0.0031,S]. In the group of low platelet count, 50.58% patients were robust, 49.42% patients were frail (r=0.792, p=0.0001). Among normal platelet count group, 92.75% were frail (r=0.337, p=0.0001). In high platelet count group, 13.40% were robust, 71.30% frail and 15.30% were disable (r=0.781, 2=652.91; p<0.0001, S). In high platelet count group 81.01% had MMSE score ≤23, (r=-0.440, 2=754.72, p=0.0001, S). 79.25% patients having high PCT had MMSE score ≤23, (r=-0.528, 2=737.28, p=0.0001, S).

Conclusion: Platelet indices could be considered meaningful laboratory markers for the risk of psychosocial morbidity in elderly people.

Keywords: Elderly; Psychosocial; Morbidity; Platelet indices