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[Anemia in elderly patients with malignant tumors]
M Kikuchi1, T Inagaki, K Imaida
1Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya-shi Kouseiin Geriatic Hospital.
Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. Japanese Journal of Geriatrics
|October 1, 1996
Summary
Anemia is common in elderly cancer patients, with declining hemoglobin levels indicating malignancy. Monitoring blood characteristics aids cancer diagnosis and treatment, especially for gastrointestinal cancers.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Oncology
- Hematology
- Cancer Epidemiology
Context:
- Elderly patients often present with anemia, which can be associated with malignancies.
- Retrospective study analyzing complications, prognosis, and treatment efficacy in elderly cancer patients.
Purpose:
- To investigate the relationship between anemia, hemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte characteristics, and cancer in the elderly.
- To evaluate the impact of treatments like blood transfusions and iron therapy on survival in elderly cancer patients.
Summary:
- Anemia and decreased hemoglobin concentration were frequently observed in elderly patients with lung, stomach, colon, pancreatic, and liver cancers.
- Survival periods varied by cancer type, with gastric, colon, and lung cancers showing average survival of 11, 9, and 7 months, respectively.
- Iron therapy showed general effectiveness for gastrointestinal tract malignancies, while blood transfusions improved survival only in colon cancer patients.
Impact:
- Hemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte characteristics are crucial indicators for diagnosing and managing cancer in the elderly.
- Findings suggest that monitoring hematological parameters can aid in early cancer detection and inform treatment strategies.
- Further research into the specific roles of anemia and erythrocyte indices in different elderly cancer populations is warranted.