Study of anemia in geriatric patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Unnao district

Abstract

Aim: The objectives of this study were to estimate the pattern of anemia in the elderly patients and the underlying etiology of anemia. Results: A total of 100 cases of anaemia were studied in elderly patients. Males 69% were dominant in numbers compared to females i.e. 31%. The mean age of elderly patients was found to be 68.5 years, with maximum patients in 60-70 age groups. The age group of patients ranged from 60 to 91 years and above. Distribution based on type of anaemia as per characteristics of peripheral smear, normocytic normochromic 49%, followed by microcytic hypochromic 19%, macrocytic 14%, dimorphic 12% and normocytic hypochromic 6%. Distribution of geriatric patients based on clinical presentation, the most common presentation was generalised weakness which constituted to 36%, followed by breathlessness which constituted to 25%, giddiness which constituted to 12%, abdomen pain which constituted to 9%, loss of weight which constituted to 8%, loss of appetite which constituted to 5%, headache which constituted to 3% and diabetes which constituted to 2%. Conclusion: Hospitalized patients are more prone to severe anaemia than population based studies were mild anaemia is common. The morphological and etiological type of anaemia proportions is identical in both population and hospital-based studies. In elderly patients, anaemia is a common disease. It leads to severe morbidity and mortality, if not investigated properly. Early treatment of anemia in elderly patients can prevent severe morbidity.