The Changes in Hematological Values in Elderly Patients

Evaluation of the Nutritional Status of Elderly Subjects, With a Comparison Between Fall and Spring*

“…As previously shown in this and other studies (1, 8–13), the hematocrit value was significantly lower for the females than for the males. However, the iron and protein intakes of the females (iron, 8.7 mg; protein, 58 gm) were less than those for the men (iron, 10.3 mg; protein, 63 gm), although these averages met the Recommended Dietary Allowances of iron for males and of protein for females.…”

“…Similar differences between male and female average hematocrit values were observed previously (1) in the Onondaga County Home [males 45.1 per cent, females 40.4 per cent], analogous to those found by Gillum and Morgan (8) [males 47.1 per cent, females 44.6 per cent], by Shapleigh et al (9) [males 42.1 per cent, females 40.8 per cent], by Olbrich (10) [males 45.1 per cent, females 42.0 per cent], by Wintrobe (11) [males 47 per cent, females 42 per cent], by Newman and Gitlow (12) [males 41.2 per cent, females 36.7 per cent], and by Fowler et al (13) [males 41.7 per cent and females 40.4 per cent]. Thus the lower hematocrit values generally found in females as compared to males, continued into the postmenopausal period.…”

“…Neither the frequency distribution nor the average hematocrit values for the total group differed significantly between the Fall and the Spring groups, and most of the control subjects remained in the same categories for both seasons ( (12) [males 41.2 per cent, females 36.7 per cent], and by Fowler et al (13) [males 41.7 per cent and females 40.4 per cent]. Thus the lower hematocrit values generally found in females as compared to males, continued into the postmenopausal period.…”

Hemoglobin Levels in Old Age

“…If we consider first those surveys in which the subjects were not arranged into age groups, we see that in people 50 to 90 years of age the sex difference in hemoglobin level is still apparent, but is smaller than that characteristic of younger adults. The average hemoglobin of women in this broad age group ranged from 92 to 97 per cent of that in men (2)(3)(4)(5)(6). In a recent survey in Halifax (7) we found for people 21 to 40 years of age an average hemoglobin value of 15 Gm.…”

“…Changes or trends in the red cell count and hematocrit values in old people have been included in only a few surveys. When they have been studied without dividing the subjects into age groups (3, 4, 6), both the red cells and the hematocrit values, as well as the hemoglobin, have been higher in men. Bing's (2) figures indicate that decreasing hemoglobin concentration is accompanied by a decreasing red cell count in men but not in women, but he studied relatively few subjects, and the age ranges of his groups were wide.…”