[Anemia--prevalence and etiology among acutely admitted geriatric patients]

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of anemia among acutely admitted geriatric patients, and among these patients to ascertain how often anemia is listed as a diagnosis, the distribution of these diagnoses and to compare the diagnostic approach to anemia with that suggested in the literature.

Age, sex and hemoglobin concentrations (hgb) were registered for patients referred to the acute geriatric ward of Odense University Hospital between 6/1/04 and 8/31/04. The prevalence of anemia was determined on the basis of the local laboratory's sex-specific lower reference limits for hgb. Diagnoses of discharge, laboratory data and, if performed, results of bone marrow and endoscopic investigations were also registered for anemic patients.

110 of 289 patients (38%) were anemic. The prevalence was significantly higher among men (61%, 95% confidence interval 51-71%) than among women (27%, 95% confidence interval 21-34%). 30 of the anemic patients (27%) had anemia listed as a diagnosis, including 14 with the diagnosis anemia without specification. A minority of anemic patients had measurements of serum ferritin (37%), serum iron (10%), plasma cobalamin (35%) and erythrocyte folate (35%), and a blood smear was likewise performed on a minority of anemic patients (26%).

Anemia often remains undiagnosed or ignored. Clinicians should be aware of the high prevalence of anemia among geriatric patients and should appreciate the importance of a correct diagnostic approach to anemia in the elderly.