Evaluation of Anemia Prevalence and Concomitant Diseases in Elderly Patients Applying to Family Medicine Polyclinic

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to review current approaches by evaluating anemia, which is the source of many negativities in increasingly aging population and directly affecting the quality of life, and the conditions associated with it. Methods: The population of the study consisted of patients over 18 years old who applied to Family Medicine polyclinic in Ordu University Training and Research Hospital between May 2018 and May 2019. According to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, a hemoglobin value below 13 g / dl in men and 12 g / dl in women is defined as anemia. The patients were divided into three groups according to their mean erythrocyte volume (MCV) as microcyte (MCV <80), normocyte (MCV 80-100) and macrocyte (MCV>100). Results: Four hundred one participants aged 65 and over were analyzed in detail. The mean age of all patients was 78.3 +/- 8.65 years. Anemia was detected in 237 (59.1%) of 401 elderly participants. Of the elderly anemic patients, 42.6% were women and 16.4% were men. Of the elderly patients, 8.8% had microcytic anemia, 87.8% had normocytic anemia, and 3.4% had macrocytic anemia. Of the elderly patients, 32.9% had chronic disease anemia, 2% had iron deficiency anemia, and 40.5% had chronic kidney disease anemia. Conclusions: The study conducted shows that anemia is a more frequent and greater problem than predicted in elderly patients admitted to an outpatient clinic. When the underlying cause is identified and treated, dramatic improvements can be achieved in the quality of life and life span of the elderly.