DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i02.034

Pages: 605-610

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of different types of anemia in older anemic patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, 93 older subjects aged 65 and above diagnosed to have anemia based on the WHO criteria were selected to participate. Various investigations were done to find out the types of anemia in these older anemic subjects. Results: Of the 93 anemic older subjects aged 65 and above, 55 were males and 38 were females. The mean age of the study population was 70.1 years. In this study moderate anemia was seen in 59.1% of the study population. In this study we did not find any association between age and severity of anemia. We did not find any association between gender and severity of anemia. Of the 93 anemic patients, 30.1% had anemia of chronic inflammation, 35.5% had nutrient deficiency anemia, 9.7% had anemia of chronic renal insufficiency, 11.8% had unexplained anemia, 5.4% had anemia due to hematological malignancy and 7.5% had anemia in various combinations. Infections and inflammatory joint disease were the common associated causes in anemia of chronic inflammation. Renal disease was seen in 13 subjects with anemia. 19.4% of the study subjects had gastrointestinal causes. Iron deficiency anemia was the common among those with gastrointestinal lesion. Conclusion: In this study nutrient deficiency anemia was common followed by anemia of chronic inflammation in older people. 19.4% of the study subjects had gastrointestinal causes of anemia indicating the necessity of gastrointestinal evaluation in older anemic patients.