The clinical implications and importance of anemia in older women

The objective of this study was to investigate associations between anemia with geriatric syndromes and comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) parameters in older women.

886 older outpatient women were included. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin concentration below 12 g/dL. patients were divided into two groups as anemic and non-anemic. The relationships between anemia and CGA parameters/geriatric syndromes were determined.

The mean age of the participants was 76.00 ± 8.91. The prevalence of patients with anemia was 15.35%. There was a significant difference between anemic and non-anemic groups in terms of age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, body mass index, the number of drugs used, and the presence of chronic renal failure (p < 0.05). After adjustment for these covariates, anemia was associated with Timed Up and Go test (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.02-1.18), muscle strength (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.83-0.99), dynapenia (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.06-3.47), Mini Nutritional Assessment scores (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.83-0.94), poor nutritional status (OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.10-3.48), Fried scores (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.24-1.68), frailty (OR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.42-4.69), falls (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.10-2.92) and polypharmacy (OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.38-3.86).

In the present study anemia was associated with frailty, polypharmacy, poor nutritional status, falls, and decreased muscle strength. Therefore, anemia may be a sign of poor health status in older women. When anemia is detected in an older woman, CGA should be strongly considered if not routinely performed.