American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

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Prepare for the ABIM Certification Exam with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Strengthen understanding with flashcards, hints, and thorough review materials. Ace your test!

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According to a 2016 meta-analysis, the D-dimer threshold in patients over 50 years should be adjusted based on what?

Platelet count
Age
Gender
Body mass index (BMI)

The correct answer is: Age

Adjusting the D-dimer threshold based on age is critical, particularly for patients over 50 years old. This is due to the fact that D-dimer levels can naturally increase with age, meaning that a standard cutoff used for younger populations may lead to an increase in false-positive results in older individuals. The body's physiological processes and the prevalence of comorbid conditions associated with aging can elevate baseline D-dimer levels. Therefore, in clinical practice, it is recommended to utilize higher D-dimer cutoffs for older patients to improve the specificity of tests for thromboembolic disease, such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, ultimately leading to more accurate diagnoses and appropriate management.