Anaemia in the Hospitalized Elderly in Tanzania: Prevalence, Severity, and Micronutrient Deficiency Status

Abstract

Introduction. Anaemia is a common problem in sub-Saharan Africa. While most literature has focused on children, women of childbearing age, and pregnant women, data for the elderly population are relatively scarce. Anaemia exhorts negative consequences to functional ability of elderly patients, both physically and cognitively. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of anaemia, severity, and micronutrient deficiency status in the elderly hospitalized patients in Tanzania. Methods. A total of 156 hospitalized adults aged 60 years and above were enrolled in this study. A structured questionnaire was used to capture sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Blood samples were collected, and a complete blood count, serum cobalamin, serum ferritin, and serum folate levels were measured to assess anaemia and micronutrient deficiency status in all participants who had anaemia. Results. The prevalence of anaemia was 79.5% (124/156) with severe anaemia in 33.9% (42/124) of participants, moderate anaemia in 42.7% (53/124) of participants, and 23.4% (29/124) of all participants had mild anaemia. Micronutrient deficiency was found in 14.5% (18/124) of all participants with anaemia. Combined deficiency (either iron and vitamin B12 deficiency or iron and folate deficiency) was the most common micronutrient deficiency anaemia with a frequency of 33.3% (6/18), followed by isolated iron and folate deficiencies at equal frequency of 27.8% (5/18) and vitamin B12 deficiency at 11.1% (2/18). Conclusion. The prevalence of anaemia in the hospitalized elderly population is high warranting public health attention and mostly present in moderate and severe forms. Micro-nutrient deficiency anaemia is common in this age group and is mostly due to combined micronutrient deficiency.

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“…Furthermore, our study anemia prevalence was lower than, reports of studies done in Tanzania (79.5%) by Chamba et al, 50 France (53%) by Petrosyan et al, 51 India (68.7%) by Pathania et al, 52 Turkey (54.9%) by Sahin et al, 53 and Ethiopia (54.5%) by Melku et al 26 The difference might be due to comorbidity of disease and difference in the study subjects, since the elderly of this study who sought medical intervention in the outpatient department, as opposed to the study subjects in the other studies were institutionalized in longterm care facilities, and the study subjects, and the use of different study design than the current study. Our findings were also lower than those reported by Dunn et al 54 77% Mary Potter Hospices in New Zealand.…”

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Anemia Among Hospital Admitted Patients in Eastern Ethiopia

“…This study was concordant with the studies conducted in Germany 60%, 28 Benin 61.8%, 4 and Uganda 64.3%. 5 However, Results from the present study revealed a lower prevalence of anemia than the previous studies conducted in Pakistan 71%, 3 Bahrain 72.2%, 2 and Tanzania 79.5%, 11 and a higher prevalence than other similar studies done in Italy 48%, 6 Germany 54.2%, 29 Pakistan 55.5%, 30 and Tanzania 44%. 12 This inconsistency Normocytic normochromic (33.2%) blood picture was the most common morphological type of anemia, followed by microcytic hypochromic (27.9%) anemia.…”

“…A Structured questionnaire was prepared from different literature. 3,4,11,21,22 A total of nine data collectors (one senior clinical nurse, one senior medical resident, and one senior medical laboratory professional) from each of the selected hospitals collected socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and history and clinical conditions (age at admission, cause of hospital admission, and laboratory tests) of each patient's data. The study participants' weight and height were measured using a digital weight scale with a connected height scale (Adult Scale ASTOR).…”

“…10 It is thought to affect ranging from 30% to 90% of newly admitted patients over the duration of their illnesses. [2][3][4][5][6]11,12 Its prevalence is higher in female subjects, from 15 years of age to adulthood, and in older (> 80 years old) patients of both genders, affecting 42% of subjects. 13 The most typical cause of anemia worldwide is iron deficiency anemia (IDA).…”

Evaluation of anaemia in geriatric patients: a retrospective hospital-based study from Northern Sri Lanka

“…Evaluation of anaemia in geriatric patients: a retrospective hospital-based study from Northern Sri Lanka Majority had a moderate severity(56.6%), followed by severe anaemia (28.8%) in our study. A hospital-based study done in Tanzania revealed that more than two-third of the participants were having either moderate or severe anaemia (27). However, there were contrasting results in other studies where mild anaemia was mainly identified in the older adult population (2,5).…”