Hematologic values in healthy older people in the Negev area

Of 1,500 volunteers aged 65 or more selected at random in the Negev area, 224 were found to be healthy and available for further examination. The population represented broadly the various ethnic groups among Jews in Israel. The mean hemoglobin level, hematocrit, red and white blood cell counts and differential count showed no differences other than those due to chance when compared with the corresponding values in a younger (20 to 48 years of age) group. The differences between men and women were similar to those found in the comparison group, with men having higher mean values for hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell count; in the study group, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity and percent saturation were higher in men in all age groups. No differences were found in mean values of white blood cell count and differential count within the study population. However, mean serum iron was lower, and mean platelet count, higher than in the younger comparison group. This survey supports the use of normal standards for adults when elderly patients are examined, regardless of different ethnic origin. However, the higher than normal platelet counts in subjects from Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe should be taken into account.