Magnitude of Anemia in Geriatric Population Visiting Outpatient Department at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: Implication for Community-Based Screening

Prevalence of anemia and associated factors among the elderly population in South Khorasan, Birjand, 2019

Background: Anemia is a multifactorial and common public health problem in geriatric age groups, especially in developing countries. Therefore, this study was designed to study the prevalence of anemia and associated factors among the elderly population in Birjand, Iran, in 2019. Methods: This was a cross-sectional approach to the baseline data of the Birjand longitudinal aging study (BLAS) in which 1396 people aged ≥ 60 years were screened for the presence of anemia based on the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. For each participant, a standard questionnaire was administered. Furthermore, the height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Blood samples were obtained from each participant for hematological examination. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and other indices of cell blood count were measured using an automatic cell counter. The prevalence rates were estimated using survey analysis with the weight of Birjand county older population. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied to detect the associated factor with anemia. Results: The mean age of the participants was 69.73±7.66 years. The crude prevalence of anemia was 11.10%, and the age-standardized prevalence based on the standard WHO population 2000-2025 was equal to 16.78% (12.81%-21.66%) (15.95% [10.41%-23.69%] in women and 17.32% (12.65%-23.25%) in men. Mild and normocytic anemia were the predominant types. The mean hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean cell volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were lower in women than in men and the mean platelet count in women was higher (p<0.001). In the final multivariate logistic regression model, only age groups, BMI, fish consumption, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) were related to anemia. Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings showed the association of anemia with some risk factors and diseases. Anemia in geriatric age groups is often underdiagnosed; hence, identification of subgroups at risk for anemia and its associated risk factors in geriatric groups has a paramount importance in preventing adverse outcomes.

Patterns of geriatric anemia: A hospital-based observational study in North India

BACKGROUND

Geriatric anemia is a global health problem because of its high prevalence and associated significant morbidity and mortality.

AIM

The objectives of this study were to estimate the pattern of anemia in the elderly patients and the underlying etiology of anemia.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a hospital-based prospective observational study, conducted in patients aged 60 years and above at PGIMER, Chandigarh, a tertiary care center of North India. Anemia is defined as hemoglobin level less than 13 g/dl in men and 12 g/dl in women.

RESULTS

Among the 105 older patients with anemia, the mean value of hemoglobin was 8.8 ± 2.3 g/dl. The etiological distribution of anemia was iron deficiency in 26 patients (24.8%), chronic disease in 24 patients (22.9%), hematological disorders in 21 (20%), chronic kidney disease in 13 (12.4%), multifactorial in 8 (7.6%), vitamin B12 deficiency in 2 (1.9%), folate deficiency in 1 (0.9%), and hypothyroidism in 1 patient (0.9%). No etiology could be found in 9 patients (8.6%). 57.6% of the iron-deficient patients had upper gastrointestinal lesions and 30.7% had a nutritional cause. Common chronic diseases causing anemia were malignancy (36.6%) and liver disease (29.1%). The myelodysplastic syndrome was the commonest hematological disorder. 53.35% of the patients had normocytic anemia, 40% had microcytic anemia, and 6.6% had macrocytic anemia.

CONCLUSIONS

In most of the cases, anemia in the elderly had a treatable cause. Thus, a thorough investigation including gastrointestinal endoscopy is warranted. Unexplained progressive or unresponsive anemia requires bone marrow examination.