Magnitude of Anemia in Geriatric Population Visiting Outpatient Department at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: Implication for Community-Based Screening

Abstract

Objective This study is aimed at assessing the magnitude and its associated factors of anemia in geriatric population visiting outpatient department at the University of Gondar referral hospital, northwest Ethiopia. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted among elder patients in Gondar town, North Gondar District, in May 2013. A total of 200 randomly selected geriatric population participated in the study. Summary statistics were computed and presented in tables and figure. Both bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression were fitted to identify associated factors. A P value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Result The median age of the study participants was 65 years (Interquartile range (IQR): 8 years). The prevalence of anemia in the geriatric patients was 54.5% (n = 109), of which 61.5% (n = 67) were males. Mild type anemia was predominant, 55.96% (n = 61). Geriatric patients with an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (AOR = 9.04, 95% CI: 4.2–19.7) and who are vegetarians (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.03–4.71) were at high risk of developing anemia. Conclusion The magnitude of anemia was high in geriatrics. Mild anemia was the predominant type. Vegetarians and geriatrics with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate were more likely to develop anemia. Hence, early diagnosis and management of anemia have paramount importance to prevent adverse outcomes in geriatrics.

Patterns of geriatric anemia: A hospital-based observational study in North India

“…Normocytic anemia was the most common type in our study, seen in more than half of cases, similar to previous studies. [1516]…”

Evaluation of anaemia in geriatric patients: a retrospective hospital-based study from Northern Sri Lanka

“…A hospital-based study done in Tanzania revealed that more than two-third of the participants were having either moderate or severe anaemia (27). However, there were contrasting results in other studies where mild anaemia was mainly identified in the older adult population (2,5). Studies done in the community and elder homes revealed mild anaemia as the commonest type of anaemia (28)(29)(30)(31)(32).…”

“…Anaemia in older adults, being one of the commonest medical problems in clinical practice, often goes unnoticed unless it is severe or causes deterioration of the underlying medical condition (1). Older adults have many age-related physiological changes which make the clinical presentation of anaemia atypical and unnoticeable (2). The onset of anaemia is often insidious and patients tend to adapt to the clinical deterioration (3,4).…”

“…Many patients may have more than one aetiology while in some it is unexplained (9). Any degree of anaemia, whether mild or severe, contributes to hospitalization, morbidity, mortality and negative impact on quality of life and it was shown that even a mild degree of anaemia can compromise patient-well-being and survival regardless of the cause and need for evaluation (2,6,(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). Mortality is higher among anaemic patients with IHD, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease (19,20).…”

Prevalence of anemia and associated factors among the elderly population in South Khorasan, Birjand, 2019

“…Anemia is a multifactorial condition and a common public health problem in older adults, particularly in developing countries with a high prevalence in Africa and Southeast Asia. According to the WHO criteria, a hemoglobin value <12g/dL in women and <13 g/dL in men is defined as anemia in the elderly ( 3 ). Blood hemoglobin concentration decreases with aging; thus, the prevalence and incidence of anemia increase with aging ( 4 ).…”