Nutr Res Pract.  2008 Mar;2(1):8-12.

Cross-sectional study on the prevalence of anemia among rural elderly in Asan

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Choongnam 336-745, Korea.
  • 2Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Choongnam 336-745, Korea. bklee@sch.ac.kr

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and clinical characteristics of anemia and to define the risk factors for anemia in older Koreans in Asan. From January to February 2002, five hundred sixty two community-dwelling older adults aged over 60 years were selected from a cross sectional study. All subjects underwent laboratory tests, which included a complete blood cell count, reticulocyte, liver and renal functional tests, lipid profiles and iron status tests. The median age was 68.6 years (range, 60-92 years). The mean levels of hemoglobin were 14.4 +/- 1.3 g/dL in men and 12.9 +/- 1.0 g/dL in women, and the overall prevalence of anemia was 12.5% in all subjects, 10.8% in men and 13.6% in women. The prevalence of anemia was the lowest among age group of 60-69 (10.0%) followed by 70-79 (15.5%), and the highest among age over 80 (20.7%), but the difference was significant only for men. The age difference was more distinct in men than in women (p<0.05). The mean hemoglobin level was significantly lower in the subjects aged over 80 y than those in the 60-69 y group (p<0.05). According to a logistic regression analysis, lower albumin and higher creatinine levels were identified as independent risk factors of anemia among older adults in Asan. In conclusion, the overall prevalence of anemia in our study group was 12.5% and the highest (20.7%) among those aged over 80 y.

Keyword

Anemia; elderly; rural Korea; albumin; creatinine

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Anemia
Blood Cell Count
Creatinine
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Hemoglobins
Humans
Iron
Liver
Logistic Models
Male
Prevalence
Reticulocytes
Risk Factors
Creatinine
Hemoglobins
Iron

Reference

1. Ania BJ, Suman VJ, Fairbanks VF, Melton LJ III. Prevalence of anemia in medical practice: community versus referral patients. Mayo Clin Proc. 1994. 69:730–735.
Article
2. Ania BJ, Suman VJ, Fairbanks VF, Rademacher DM, Melton LJ III. Incidence of anemia in older people: an epidemiology study in a well-defined population. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1997. 45:825–831.
3. Baik HW, Russell RM. Vitamin B12 deficiency in the elderly. Annu Rev Nutr. 1999. 19:357–377.
4. Balducci L. Epidemiology of anemia in the elderly: information on diagnostic evaluation. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003. 51:S2–S9.
Article
5. Blumberg WE, Eisinger J, Lamola AA, Zuckerman DM. Zinc protoporphyrin level in blood determined by a portable hematofluorometer: a screening device for lead poisoning. J Lab Clin Med. 1977. 89:712–723.
6. Carmel R. Anemia and aging: an overview of clinical, diagnostic and biological issues. Blood Rev. 2001. 15:9–18.
Article
7. Celestin-Roux C, Hale WE, Perkins LL, Stewart RB. Anemia: evaluation of age, sex, disease and medication in the elderly. Journal of Geriatric Drug Therapy. 1987. 1:63–86.
8. Choi CW, Lee J, Yoon SY, Choi IK, Oh SC, Seo JH, Kim BS, Shin SW, Kim YH, Kim JS. Prevalence and characteristics of anemia in the elderly: Cross-sectional study of three urban Korean population samples. Am J Hematol. 2004. 77:26–30.
Article
9. DeMaeyer E, Adiels-Yagman M. The prevalence of anemia in the world. World Health Stat Q. 1985. 38:302–316.
10. Hake WE, Stewart RB, Marks RG. Hematology and biochemical values in an ambulatory elderly population. Age Ageing. 1983. 12:275–284.
11. Izaks GJ, Westendorp RG, Knook DL. The definition of anemia in older persons. JAMA. 1999. 281:1714–1717.
Article
12. Kikuchi M, Inagaki T, Shinagawa N. Five-year survival of older people with anemia: variation with hemoglobin concentration. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2001. 149:1226–1228.
Article
13. Kim JS, Kim MK, Kim HS. Regional comparison of dietary intakes and health related behaviors among residents in Asan. Nutrition Research and Practice. 2007. 2:143–149.
Article
14. Lipschitz DA, Mitchell CO, Thompson C. The anemia of senescence. Am J Hematol. 1981. 11:47–54.
Article
15. Ma JZ, Ebben J, Xia H, Collins AJ. Hematocrit levels and associated mortality in hemodialysis patients. J Am Soc Nephrol. 1999. 10:610–619.
16. Moreno F, Sanz-Guajardo D, Lopez-Gomez JM, Jofre R, Valderrabano F. Increasing hematocrit has a beneficial effect on quality of life and is safe in selected hemodialysis patients. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2000. 11:335–342.
Article
17. Nissenson AR, Goodnough LT, Dubois RW. Anemia, not just an innocent bystander? Arch Intern Med. 2003. 162:1400–1404.
18. Salive ME, Cornoni-Huntley J, Guralink JM, Phillips CL, Wallace RB, Ostfeld AM, Cohen HJ. Anemia and hemoglobin levels in older persons: relationship with age, gender, and health status. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1992. 40:489–496.
Article
19. Smith DL. Anemia in elderly. Am Fam Physician. 2000. 62:1565–1572.
20. Stander PE. Anemia in the elderly. Postgrad Med. 1989. 85:85–96.
Article
21. Timiras MS, Brownstein H. Prevalence of anemia and correlation of hemoglobin with age in a geriatric screening clinic population. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1987. 35:639–643.
Article
22. Zauber NP, Zauber AG. Hematologic data of healthy very old people. JAMA. 1987. 257:2181–2184.
Article
Full Text Links
  • NRP
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr