Title: Study of Clinical and Haematological Profile of Anaemia in Hospitalised Geriatric Patients
Authors: Md. Israrul Haque, Soni Talreja
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i1.126
Abstract
Background: Anemia is an important but under diagnosed cause of morbidity in elderly. The clinical and hematological profile of anemia is different in different geographical area.
Methods: It was a retrospective study. Case files of 100 geriatric patients admitted in Medicine department of IGIMS and NSMCH, Patna with anemia, were selected for the above study. Male patients with Hb <13 g/dl and female patients with Hb <12 g/dl were considered in the study. Cases were analyzed to find out clinical and hematological profile of anemia.
Results: The commonest clinical presentation was easy fatigability (70%), followed by dyspnea (50%). The commonest cause of anemia was iron deficiency (45%) followed by Vitamin B 12 and folate deficiency (22%), anemia of chronic disease (11%).
Conclusions: Failure to evaluate anemia in elderly lead to delayed diagnosis of potentially treatable conditions. Nonspecific symptoms like fatigue and weakness should not be ignored, presuming that they are part of “normal ageing”. An effort should always be made to reach etiological diagnosis before instituting treatment. Role of NSAIDs as a risk factor in anemia should not be overlooked.
Keywords: Anemia of chronic disease, Anemia, Geriatric, Iron deficiency.
References
- World Health Organization; Definition of an older or elderly person. Available at: http://www.searo.who.int/entity/health_situation_tre nds/data/chi/elderly- population/en/
- World Health Organization; Population of elderly person. Available at: http://www.searo.who.int/india/topics/ageing/en/.
- Beghe C, Wilson A, Ershler WB. Prevalence and outcome of anemia in geriatrics: systematic review of the literature: Am J Med. 2004;116(suppl 7A):38105.
- Endres HG, Wedding U, Pittrow D, Thiem U, Trampisch HJ, Diehm C. Prevalence of anemia in elderly patients in primary care: impact on 5-year mortality risk and differences between men and women. Curr Med Res Opin. 2009;25(5):1143-58
- Elejalde Guerra JI, Alonso Martinez JL, Rubio Vela T, Garcia Labairu C, Llorente B, Echegaray M. Etiological study and diagnosis of anemia in adults over 60 years of age. Sangre.1999;44(6):418-23.
- Joosten E, Pelemans W, Hiele M, Noyen J. Prevalence and causes of anaemia in a geriatric hospitalized population. Gerontol 1992;38:111-7.
- Gunter EW, Lewis BG, Koncikowski SM. Laboratory procedures used for the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), 19881994. Hyattsville, MD: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 1996.
- Mehta BC. Iron deficiency anemia. In Shah SN editor. API Textbook of Kaur et al: Anemia and micronutrient deficiency IJMDS ● ijmds.org ● January 2014; 3(1) 302 Medicine, 7th ed. Association of Physicians of India, Mumbai; 2003.p.930-4.
- Beutler E, Waalen J. The definition of anemia: what is the lower limit of normal of the blood hemoglobin concentration? Blood 2006;107:1747.
- Chaves PH, Xue QL, Guralnik JM. What constitutes normal hemoglobin concentration in community-dwelling disabled older women? J Am Geriatr Soc 2004; 52:1811.