Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Anemia in the elderly.

¹Department of family Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison 53715, USA.

American Family Physician

|October 19, 2000

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Anemia in older adults is often treatable, with identifiable causes in 80% of cases. Common culprits include chronic disease and iron deficiency, but other deficiencies and conditions also play a role.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Electromagnetic waves focused by a negative-index planar lens.

Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics·2003

Same author

Racial differences in bone turnover and calcium metabolism in adolescent females.

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·2003

Same author

Telomeric protein distributions and remodeling through the cell cycle in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Molecular biology of the cell·2003

Same author

A host-specific bacteria-to-plant signal molecule (Nod factor) enhances germination and early growth of diverse crop plants.

Planta·2003

Same author

Calculations and measurements of wire and/or split-ring negative index media.

Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics·2002

Same author

The major Nod factor of Bradyrhizobium japonicum promotes early growth of soybean and corn.

Journal of experimental botany·2002

Same journal

For Post-stent Patients With Atherosclerotic Coronary Vascular Disease Who Are Taking an Anticoagulant, Adding Aspirin Worsens Outcomes.

American family physician·2026

Same journal

Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy.

American family physician·2026

Same journal

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: Diagnosis and Management.

American family physician·2026

Same journal

Aerobic Exercise Is the Better Exercise Modality for Knee Osteoarthritis.

American family physician·2026

Same journal

Overscreening Leads to Overdiagnosis of MASLD.

American family physician·2026

Same journal

Type 2 Diabetes: Outpatient Insulin Management.

American family physician·2026

See all related articles

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Hematology
Internal Medicine

Background:

Anemia is frequently observed in elderly patients but is not an inevitable part of aging.
Identifying the underlying cause of anemia in older adults is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the common causes of anemia in the elderly.
To discuss diagnostic approaches and treatment strategies for anemia in older adults.

Main Methods:

Review of literature on anemia in the elderly.
Discussion of diagnostic tests including serum ferritin and methylmalonic acid levels.
Overview of treatment options for various types of anemia.

Main Results:

Approximately 80% of elderly patients with anemia have an identifiable cause.

Related Experiment Videos

The most frequent causes are anemia of chronic disease and iron deficiency anemia.

Other significant causes include vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, gastrointestinal bleeding, and myelodysplastic syndromes.

Conclusions:

Anemia in the elderly is multifactorial and requires thorough investigation.
Serum ferritin is key for differentiating iron deficiency from anemia of chronic disease.
Vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies are treatable with supplementation, with serum methylmalonic acid aiding B12 diagnosis.