Factors Associated with Anemia in the Institutionalized Elderly

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Hematology
• Public Health

Background:

• Anemia is a frequent health issue in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), affecting a significant portion of the elderly population (25-63%).
• Understanding the prevalence, characteristics, and contributing factors of anemia in institutionalized elderly is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and characteristics of anemia among elderly residents in LTCFs.
• To identify factors associated with anemia in this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 313 individuals aged 60 years and older residing in LTCFs in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
• Poisson regression with robust variance estimates was employed to analyze factors related to anemia.

Main Results:

• The overall prevalence of anemia was 38% in the studied population.
• Mild, normocytic, and normochromic anemia without anisocytosis were predominant.
• Anemia was significantly associated with thinness (PR: 1.68) and moderate to total dependence (PR: 2.61).

Conclusions:

• A high prevalence of anemia exists in institutionalized elderly individuals, irrespective of gender.
• The characteristics of anemia suggest chronic diseases as a potential underlying cause.
• Thinness and higher levels of dependence are significant risk factors for anemia in this population.