Hypoxia in elderly inpatients identification of inflammatory risk factors and evaluation of Salidroside derivatives’protective effects in aged mouse models

Background  Hypoxia, characterized by insufficient oxygen supply to tissues, poses significant health risks, particularly among the elderly population, who are increasingly susceptible to respiratory and cardiovascular complications. This study aimed to elucidate the prevalence and clinical implications of hypoxia in elderly patients, identify associated inflammatory markers, and evaluate the protective effects of salidroside and its derivatives under hypoxic conditions.

Methods  A clinical epidemiological analysis and multivariate logistic regression were conducted on a cohort of 4,114 elderly inpatients to assess hypoxia prevalence and its associations. Additionally, hypobaric hypoxia tests were performed on aged C57BL/6J mice to investigate the protective efficacy of salidroside and its derivatives. Histopathological evaluations of vital organs (brain, heart, liver, and kidneys) and measurements of oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, were carried out.

Results  The analysis revealed an 8.85% prevalence of hypoxia among the elderly inpatients, with significant associations identified between elevated inflammatory markers and hypoxia risk. In the animal model, salidroside and its derivatives significantly extended survival time under hypoxic conditions, with derivative J1 showing a remarkable 108.41% increase compared to controls. Histopathological assessments indicated that these compounds improved tissue integrity in the brain, heart, liver, and kidneys. Furthermore, salidroside and its derivatives effectively modulated oxidative stress by enhancing SOD activity and GSH levels while reducing MDA content across the tissues examined.

Conclusions  These findings underscore the potential of salidroside and its derivatives as therapeutic agents for managing hypoxia-induced organ damage in the elderly population. Future research should focus on elucidating the precise molecular mechanisms underlying their protective effects and evaluating their clinical applicability in hypoxia management.