Vision impairment predicts 5 year mortality

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary function testing parameters predict cardiovascular and mortality outcomes. Previously, risk scores were created using the basic metabolic profile and complete blood count, including the Intermountain Risk Score (IMRS). This study sought to develop similar pulmonary-specific risk scores for mortality prediction. METHODS: Subjects evaluated by spirometry at 5 Intermountain Healthcare hospitals (females: n = 2,943; males: n = 2,495) were randomly assigned to risk score derivation (70% of subjects) or an independent validation set (the remaining 30%). Sex-specific scores used spirometry, age, and metabolic and blood count laboratory data. Cox regression β-coefficients formed the basis of risk score weightings. RESULTS: Among females, pulmonary IMRS was strongly associated with 5-y mortality in the validation set (hazard ratio = 1.24 per +1 risk score, CI 1.16–1.33, P trend P trend CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary-specific IMRS and pulmonary-specific basic metabolic profile risk score provided excellent discrimination of mortality among pulmonary subjects. These risk stratification tools combine familiar, relatively inexpensive, commonly-measured, standardized laboratory parameters with spirometry data. They may be electronically calculated and delivered at the point of care, providing meaningful risk information to assist clinicians in patient evaluations.