Prevalence of Anemia among Older Adults Residing in the Coastal and Andes Mountains in Ecuador: Results of the SABE Survey

Abstract

Objectives. To estimate the prevalence of anemia and its determinants among older adults in Ecuador. Methods. The present study was based on data from the National Survey of Health, Wellbeing, and Aging. Hemoglobin concentrations were adjusted by participants' smoking status and altitude of residence, and anemia was defined according to the World Health Organization criteria (<12 g/dL in women and <13 g/dL in men). Gender-specific logistic regression models were used to examine the association between demographic and health characteristics and anemia. Results. A total of 2,372 subjects with a mean age of 71.8 (SD 8.2) years had their hemoglobin measured, representing an estimated 1.1 million older adults. The crude prevalence of anemia was 20.0% in women and 25.2% in men. However, higher anemia prevalence rates were seen with advancing age among black women and subjects residing in the urban coast. Likewise, certain health conditions such as hypoalbuminemia, cancer in men, chronic kidney disease, iron deficiency, and low grade inflammation were associated with increased odds of having anemia. Conclusions. Anemia is a prevalent condition among older adults in Ecuador. Moreover, further research is needed to examine the association between anemia and adverse health-related outcomes among older Ecuadorians.

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

“…Self-reported chronic kidney disease was associated with 3.4 higher risk of anemia. Our results are in agreement with Orcs on older adults residing in the Coastal and Andes mountains in Ecuador ( 13 ). However, our results are in contrast with Nalado et al who tested 353 CKD adult patients in Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic hospital ( 27 ).…”

“…Our results support those of the study of Orces conducted on older adults residing in the Coastal and Andes mountains in Ecuador ( 13 ). Like most organs and tissues, hematopoietic aging is evident as a reduced adaptive immune system, which induces immune dysfunction and increased incidence of myeloproliferative diseases, including myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and increased anemia ( 19 ).…”

“…Anemia was classified based on MCV. The MCV <70fl was defined as microcytic, 70fl ≥ MCV <100fl normocytic and those with MCV ≥100fl as macrocytic anemia ( 13 ).…”

Anemia in women of reproductive age in Ecuador: Data from a national survey

“…Gautam et al, found no significant association between anemia status and women’s age [ 32 ], while Le et al, found that anemia-age trends follow a bimodal distribution in the risk of anemia in women with a peak at 40–49 years [ 33 ]. Regarding moderate-severe anemia, it is possible that some health conditions, such as iron deficiency, hypoalbuminemia, cancer and chronic diseases, increase the prevalence in older adults in Ecuador [ 36 ]. Additionally, women in the 35–49 category may include subjects who are experiencing perimenopause, with symptoms such as menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding), which increases the risk of anemia [ 37 ].…”

“…Among women between 20 to 49 years, Freire, et al reported that numerically, Afro-Ecuadorian women had a slightly higher prevalence of anemia compared with other ethnicities; however, they did not perform any statistical test [19]. Another study showed that older Afro-Ecuadorian individuals (median age 71.8, SD: 8.2) had a higher prevalence of anemia compared with other ethnicities [36].…”