Frequency and etiology of anemia in patients over the age of 70
Durand, H.; Prinseau, J.; Fayolle, P.; Gayno, J.P.; Moreau, L.
La Semaine des Hopitaux Organe Fonde Par l'Association d'Enseignement Medical des Hopitaux de Paris 55(39-40): 1782-1787
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-1777 PMID: 232773 Document Number: 147491
The study of 1 726 patients living in homes for the aged, or hospitalized shows that 20% of them have anemia. There is no increase in prevalence of the disease in females. A wide variety of mechanisms may cause anemia. However, chronic bleeding of essentially digestive origin is the most common. Several anemia-causing factors are particularly frequent in the aged: bleeding, inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, bone marrow failure. Diagnosis is complicated and may require examinations which are not always easily accepted by the aged.