Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 20, 2026
05:35
Author Spotlight: Developing a Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Estimation Method for Anemia Management
Published on: January 19, 2024
1.6K
Anaemia in the hospitalised elderly
S Sahadevan1, P W Choo, F J Jayaratnam
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
Singapore Medical Journal
|August 1, 1995
Summary
This study found that older adults, especially those over 75 and from institutions, have higher rates of anemia. Simple work-ups can identify causes in most elderly anemic patients.
Area of Science:
- Geriatrics
- Hematology
Background:
- Anemia is common in the elderly, but its evaluation and causes require further investigation.
- Prevalence and severity of anemia may differ based on age subgroups and institutionalization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine features of anemia in elderly patients.
- To assess the utility of anemia evaluation in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 151 patients admitted between January and June 1990.
- Analysis of anemia prevalence, severity (Hb < 8g/dl), and causes in patients aged 75+ and institutionalized individuals.
Main Results:
- 54 out of 151 patients (35.8%) were anemic.
- Anemia prevalence was higher in the 'old old' (>= 75 years).
- Institutionalized patients showed a higher prevalence of severe anemia (Hb < 8g/dl).
- 66% of anemia causes were identified with simple work-up; deficiency-related anemias accounted for 44%.
Conclusions:
- Anemia evaluation is useful in the elderly, with most causes identifiable via simple work-up.
- The study suggests potential clinical utility even for mildly anemic patients (Hb >= 10g/dl), warranting further cost-effectiveness studies.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
289
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
289
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion
265
In geriatric patients, renal physiology undergoes significant changes, including diminished renal blood flow and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to alterations in medication clearance. Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, lithium, and digoxin, which rely on glomerular filtration for removal from the body, particularly impact pharmacokinetics. These drugs tend to have slower clearance rates in older adults, necessitating careful dosage considerations.Evaluation of renal...
265
01:00Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution
272
Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are...
272
01:22Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies
417
Additional therapies for treating patients with heart failure (HF) may include procedural interventions, supplemental oxygen, the management of sleep disorders, and nutritional therapy.Procedural InterventionsImplantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: For patients at risk of life-threatening arrhythmias due to severe left ventricular dysfunction, an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) can detect and terminate these arrhythmias, preventing sudden cardiac death and improving survival rates.
417
01:25Peritoneal Dialysis III: Nursing Management
997
Peritoneal dialysis, or PD, utilizes the peritoneal membrane as a filter to eliminate excess fluid and waste products. Effective nursing management is essential for ensuring patient safety, preventing complications, and promoting optimal function of the peritoneal dialysis process.Assessment and MonitoringNurses must thoroughly assess the patient before, during, and after each dialysis session. Regular monitoring includes vital signs, daily weight, fluid intake and output, and laboratory values...
997
01:27Disorders of Erythrocytes
2.4K
Disorders of erythrocytes, or red blood cells (RBCs), include a range of conditions affecting their number, shape, or function.
Erythrocyte disorders can be broadly categorized into two main types: anemic and polycythemic conditions.
A low oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood due to the loss, lower production, or destruction of erythrocytes is termed anemia. Hemorrhagic anemia, for example, occurs when bleeding from an external wound or internal ulcer reduces erythrocyte counts.
On the other...
Erythrocyte disorders can be broadly categorized into two main types: anemic and polycythemic conditions.
A low oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood due to the loss, lower production, or destruction of erythrocytes is termed anemia. Hemorrhagic anemia, for example, occurs when bleeding from an external wound or internal ulcer reduces erythrocyte counts.
On the other...
2.4K