Search Results (1)

Introduction: Risk factors, a 75-year-old concept, are instrumental in the management of the general population. Newer biomarkers can explain residual risk and protection from risk. The population needs a new platform to make more comprehensible the importance of managing risk. Biologic age, the number of years left to live, is the platform that will receive the attention of patients. Method: Risk factor odds ratios are used to approximate the years lost to the modifiable risk, calculating a biologic age. Newer biomarkers confirm the predication and can be used to explain the pleomorphic properties of medications and unrealized risk. The biomarkers represent the following biologic processes: repair, inflammation, immune function, hematologic, clotting factors, metabolic-nutritional, organ maintenance, anthropomorphic, environmental, endothelial function, sleep, co-morbidities, frailty, and electromagnetic. Risk factors and biomarkers are ranked in the order of significance in reducing biologic age. Results: A six-step method of patient management using biologic age and biomarkers is presented. Conclusions: Knowledge of risk factors and therapies to improve risk has increased over the last 75 years. Biologic age is more appropriate in explaining the significance of this knowledge and may improve patient compliance to lifestyle changes and medication compliance. Appropriate counseling with utilization of biomarkers of biologic processes, such as high sensitivity-CRP, circulating stem cells, number of co-morbidities, frailty, electrocardiogram, and pulse wave velocity will improve compliance and personalize care. The 6-minute walk should be incorporated into the vital signs due to prognostic significance. Full article