Pattern of anemia in elderly patients

Background: Anemia is one of the common significant factors responsible for the morbidity and mortality in elderly patients of age 60 years and above. The present was done with the aim to assess the consequences of anemia, and potential etiologies that increase risk of adverse events in geriatric population.Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted at the department of pathology at Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and associated Dr. B. R. A. M. Hospital, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, during the period from December 2011 to December 2012. A total of 150 patients with hemoglobin <12 gm% in female and <13 gm% in male satisfying the WHO criteria of anemia (hemoglobin (Hb) were included in the study. Detailed laboratory investigation of haemoglobin and relevant diagnostic tests were done in all the patients to identify the etiology.Results: The prevalence rate of anemia was 68.67%. Proportion of anemia in males was 56.6% and in females it was 43.4%.Fatigue was the most common symptom found in 87.88 % of patients. Overall mean MCV values in the study population were 80.12±10.71 (fL). Most of the patients were mild anaemic (45.3%). Normocytic-normochromic type of anemia was the most common type constituting 64%.Conclusions: There are no specific clinical guidelines to manage geriatric anemia at present. It is clear that anemia in the elderly should be evaluated, and the underlying cause should be identified at the earliest and treated whenever possible