Characteristics of Anemia in Elderly: A Hospital Based Study in South India

Abstract

Anemia is a common concern in older people and can have significant morbidity and mortality. Because anemia is a sign, not a diagnosis, an evaluation is almost always warranted to identify the underlying cause. The purpose of this study was to study the clinical profile of elderly patients with anemia and to study characteristics of hematological types of anemia in such patients as well as the closest possible etiological profile. Hundred patients above the age of 60 years were included in the study. Clinical profile with laboratory studies of Hemoglobin and diagnostic tests to fix the etiology. Majority of patients had normocytic blood picture. Renal failure was the most common underlying chronic disease. Significant number of patients were on non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which could contribute to the anaemia. 14% of the patients had an underlying malignancy. 73.3% of the patients in the microcytic group had an underlying GI lesion on endoscopy. Identifying anemia as an important aspect of a comprehensive geriatric assessment is absolutely essential further to clinical detection. Confirming the type of anemia is critical to direct the investigation for profiling the etiology since it is well known that the treatment of anemia goes a long way in improving the overall outcome and quality of life.

Study of anemia in geriatric population: a hospital based study in Marathwada region, Maharashtra, India

“…The most common pattern of anemia in their study has been found to be normocytic anemia amounting to 93.5% and 3.5% of them being microcytic, and 3% were macrocytic anemias. 3,5 In the present study, percentage of anemia in males was 64.74% and in females 70.58%. All the types of anemia based on peripheral smear were evident, normocytic being the commonest constituting 78.86%, followed by microcytic hypochromic 11.11%, macrocytic 5.96% and dimorphic 4.07%.…”

“…In the geriatrics age group usually patient present with common symptoms like fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath, that's why in geriatric age group anemia is usually ignored by the physicians. 3,4 According to world health organization criteria, level of hemoglobin less than 13 g/dl in case of males and less than 12 g/dl in females are considered as anemic. Hence it is necessary to study the various pattern of anemia in the elderly population.…”

Study of Prevalence and Morphological Patterns of Anaemia in Adult and Geriatric Population: A Hospital-Based Study

“…Determining the patterns of anaemia with its changes in the RBC parameters could have important diagnostic and therapeutic implications for addressing this common problem in the adult and geriatric population. [8,9,10,11] Despite the high prevalence, very less database regarding anaemia >45 years is available in South India. [3] This prompted us to study the morphological pattern and prevalence of anaemia in a tertiary care hospital at Pondicherry.…”

Prevalence of anemia in geriatric population of Kashmir: A hospital based study

“…3 Studies have shown that anemia is an independent risk factors for increase in morbidity and mortality. 4,5 Stuides have also reported association between anemia and worsening of cognition and quality of life in elderly population.…”