Anemia and the elderly: clinical considerations

Anemia is a common problem in the management of elderly patients. Anemia in the elderly is linked to an increase in morbidity and mortality, and serves as an independent variable associated with poor outcomes. In the elderly population, anemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular health and early death, contributes to fatigue, and negatively impacts on cognitive function, physical function, and the quality of life and serves as a marker of increased vulnerability. A greater understanding of pathophysiology of anemia in the setting of chronic disease has provided insights into the rationale for the potential clinical application of erythropoietic agents in the treatment of anemia. The impact of erythropoietic therapy, as it relates to specific afflictions affecting the older age patient, including diminished exercise tolerance, frailty, loss of functional capacity, immobility, depression, increased care needs and cardiovascular fitness, remains to be determined and is worthy of further investigation.