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Catecholamine excretion in old age

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Abstract

Catecholamine excretion was studied in two groups of nonhospitalized subjects, 60 and 80 years of age, N = 35 and 29, respectively.

Urinary 24h dopamine excretion exhibited an age-related decline (p = 0.001). There was a sex difference for dopamine excretion; men had higher excretion levels (p = 0.04). Twenty-four-hour excretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine was slightly higher in 60- than in 80- year-old individuals (NS). Smoking was associated with a considerable increase in epinephrine (p = 0.001) and norepinephrine (p = 0.04) excretion. Body mass index was negatively correlated to epinephrine excretion (r = −0.27; p < 0.05). When analyzed with a multi-way analysis of variance with analysis of covariance, significant influences of age on dopamine excretion, of creatinine clearance on dopamine and norepinephrine excretion, and of smoking on epinephrine excretion were seen. Thus, factors such as age, gender, body mass, kidney function and smoking habits considerably influence catecholamine excretion in elderly people (Aging 3: 263–268, 1991).

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Olsson, T., Viitanen, M., Hägg, E. et al. Catecholamine excretion in old age. Aging Clin Exp Res 3, 263–268 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324017

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