Normal variation in erythrocyte sedimentation rate in males over 50 years old.

Variation in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was examined in a population of 789 males of age 50 years and over. ESR increased with advancing age and declining social class, and was higher than average among cigarette smokers and coffee drinkers, all these factors being independent. A multivariate regression model predicted that the upper ESR limit in a non-anaemic male population aged 50-80 years will normally vary from 7 mm/h to 50-60 mm/h depending on the subgroup to which a person belongs. This suggests that a flexible reference range for ESR may be more appropriate than a fixed range.