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Updated: Jan 22, 2026
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Author Spotlight: Developing a Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Estimation Method for Anemia Management
Published on: January 19, 2024
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Treatment options for anemia in the elderly
Fabiana Busti1, Giacomo Marchi1, Acaynne Lira Zidanes1
1Department of Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Verona, EuroBloodNet Referral Center for Iron Metabolism Disorders, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, 37138 Verona, Italy.
Summary
Anemia in the elderly (AE) is common and linked to poor health outcomes. New treatments are emerging to improve care for this often-overlooked condition.
Area of Science:
- Geriatrics
- Hematology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Anemia in the elderly (AE) is prevalent and associated with adverse clinical outcomes, including reduced quality of life, falls, fractures, cognitive decline, extended hospital stays, and mortality.
- AE is frequently overlooked and undertreated due to multifactorial causes and diagnostic challenges, often being categorized as unexplained.
- Current therapeutic options for AE are limited, primarily to transfusions or supplementation with hematinics like iron and B vitamins, which have historically been underutilized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the challenges in diagnosing and treating anemia in the elderly.
- To highlight the potential of new therapeutic agents for managing AE.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of anemia in the elderly.
- Analysis of current and emerging therapeutic strategies.
Main Results:
- Iron deficiency diagnosis is often missed in the elderly due to inappropriate laboratory thresholds and issues with traditional iron preparations.
- New oral and intravenous iron formulations show promise for treating AE.
- Innovative drugs, including hepcidin modulators, Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) stabilizers, and activin type II receptor agonists, are entering the clinical field.
Conclusions:
- Anemia in the elderly requires greater clinical attention and improved diagnostic approaches.
- Advancements in iron preparations and novel drug classes offer significant potential to enhance the treatment of AE in the future.
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