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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

A Rapid and Chemical-free Hemoglobin Assay with Photothermal Angular Light Scattering

A Rapid and Chemical-free Hemoglobin Assay with Photothermal Angular Light Scattering

Published on: December 7, 2016

Blood haemoglobin declines in the elderly: implications for reference intervals from age 70 to 88.

H Nilsson-Ehle¹, R Jagenburg, S Landahl

¹Department of Medicine, Institute of Internal Medicine, Göteborg University, Sweden. herman.nilsson-ehle@medicine.gu.se

European Journal of Haematology

|November 25, 2000

Summary

Hemoglobin (Hb) levels significantly decline in healthy elderly men but not women between ages 70 and 88. This age-related Hb decrease necessitates updated, lower anemia reference ranges for older adults.

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Last Updated: Jul 9, 2026

A Rapid and Chemical-free Hemoglobin Assay with Photothermal Angular Light Scattering

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Published on: December 7, 2016

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A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level

A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level

Published on: January 19, 2024

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Hematology
Epidemiology

Background:

Aging is associated with various physiological changes, including potential alterations in blood parameters.
Hemoglobin (Hb) levels are critical indicators of health and oxygen-carrying capacity.
Established reference intervals for Hb may not accurately reflect age-related physiological shifts in elderly populations.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate age-related changes in hemoglobin (Hb) levels in healthy elderly men and women.
To determine if these Hb changes influence health-related reference intervals for anemia.
To evaluate the need for revised anemia diagnostic criteria in older adults.

Main Methods:

Longitudinal population study tracking 1148 70-year-olds over 18 years (ages 70-88).
Analysis of Hb levels in healthy participants, excluding non-healthy individuals.
Multivariate analyses to identify factors independently associated with Hb levels, including age and body mass index.

Main Results:

Significant annual decline in mean Hb observed in healthy men (0.53 g/L, p=0.038) from 152 to 141 g/L.
Minimal annual Hb decline in healthy women (0.05 g/L, n.s.) from 140 to 138 g/L.
Age and body mass index were independent predictors of Hb levels in both sexes.

Conclusions:

A notable age-related decline in Hb occurs in healthy elderly men, but not significantly in women.
This justifies lower epidemiological decision limits for anemia, around 115 g/L, for both sexes from age 80-82.
Current anemia definitions may overestimate prevalence in elderly men due to unadjusted reference ranges.