Screening tests for latent anemia in hospitalized adults over the age of 65

Abstract

Objective: Anemia is an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality in an array of disorders common to seniors including cancer, renal disease, and heart disease. The aim of this study was to identify the frequency of RBC abnormalities and the utility of laboratory tests for the detection of anemia and its cause in the hospitalized elderly. Methods: A prospective analysis was performed on 140 consecutive adults over 65 who had chronic diseases (mean age 72, range 65-80). Laboratory tests included hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), red cell indices, mean cell volume (MCV), mean cellular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red cell distribution width (RDW), reticulocyte count (RET), serum iron, total iron binding capacity, and index saturation transferrin (IST). Results: Only a minority of patients, 33 (23.58%), had normal results for all hematological tests. An additional 16 patients (11.4%) had normal HGB and HCT but low MCV or MCH. Conclusion: Anemia is common in older, chronically ill adults. Routine anemia screening should be recommended in hospitalized chronically ill adults over 65 years of age, and the World Health Organization (WHO) must redefine anemia by these common parameters.