Clinicohematological Study Of Anemia In Geriatric Patients

Abstract

The present study was conducted in the Hematology section of the Department of Pathology over two years. Two hundred and seventy-three geriatric patients diagnosed as anaemic as per WHO criteria were included in the study—maximum 51.2%number of cases from the age group of 60-65 years. Geriatric anaemia showed slight male preponderance (52.4%) over females (47.6%). Lowest haemoglobin value observed was 3.4 gm/dl, while the highest value was 12.3 gm/dl in males and 11.9 gm/dl in females. Most of the study population presented with moderate grade anaemia (47.6%) Patients requiring hospitalisation (71.8%) outnumbered the patients treated on OPD basis (28.2%). Among the hospitalised patients, moderate grade (51.5%) was common Generalised weakness was the most common symptom (69.6%) followed by fatigue (62.2%). There was a significant association (p= 0.009) observed between the severity of anaemia and dyspnoea Underlying malignancy (20.1%) was the most common comorbid condition among the anaemic subjects. Amongst the 148 cases of anaemia of chronic disease, 120 cases (81%) had normocytic normochromic blood picture, and the majority of the cases had mild anaemia (75 cases-50.6%). Iron deficiency was 2nd leading cause of geriatric anaemia (15.3%); presenting with moderate grade anaemia in a majority (69%). Chronic blood loss was the most common contributing factor for iron deficiency anaemia (61.9%). The incidence of anaemia is quite high among elderly patients, more so when associated with chronic diseases and malignancies. Despite modern diagnostic advances, geriatric anaemia remains underreported and inadequately investigated.