Reduced physical strength, cognitive dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease
It should be screened, evaluated, and treated aggressively.
A 72-year-old woman recently underwent a health check-up and was found to be anaemic. There was fatigue and some shortness of breath, but I thought it was because of my age. Anemia is when the hemoglobin level is less than 13 g/dL in men and 12 g/dL in women. Worldwide, the prevalence of anemia among the elderly over 65 is up to 23%. Although the incidence is not low, awareness of the disease itself is not high, and there is even a tendency to consider the decrease in hemoglobin level as a natural phenomenon due to ageing. The truth is not like that. Most older people maintain normal levels.
There are many causes of senile anemia. One of them is a lack of essential nutrients such as iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid. This can be caused by a decrease in the absorption capacity of the stomach due to ageing, a change in diet, or a decrease in food intake due to oral problems. The second is anemia due to chronic diseases such as kidney disease, diabetes, chronic liver disease, rheumatic disease or infection. These chronic conditions can affect red blood cell production or shorten the lifespan of red blood cells. Thirdly, bone marrow function is reduced. It can be caused by bone marrow degeneration due to aging or malignant diseases such as myelodysplastic syndrome, aplastic anemia, and hematological cancer.
Malnutrition, chronic diseases, and bleeding can be the cause.
Another well-known cause of anemia is bleeding. Bleeding can be caused by diseases such as ulcer disease, stomach cancer, colon cancer, hemorrhoids, or fissures. A recent study found that older adults with mild anemia had a higher risk of dying from cancer than those without anemia. The link between anemia and cancer deaths in the elderly cannot be ignored. As you get older, the number of medicines you take increases, and some medicines cause anaemia. For example, anticancer drugs, antibiotics, anticonvulsant drugs, antirheumatic drugs, acid secretion inhibitors, and thiazide diuretics can cause anemia. Of course, if you take medicine for a long time, your doctor will prescribe it while managing the risk.
Anemia in the elderly is associated with multiple health and quality of life risks. First of all, anemia reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, causing fatigue and loss of physical strength and making it difficult to carry out daily activities independently. Second, according to a recent study, anemia in the elderly is known to be closely related to cognitive dysfunction. The brain needs an adequate supply of oxygen to function properly. Chronic hypoxia causing anemia is known to increase the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
Third, anemia in the elderly increases the risk of hospitalization and death in those with underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease or kidney disease. Likewise, existing cardiovascular disease problems may worsen or new problems may arise. When the number of red blood cells available to our body is low, the heart has to beat harder to deliver oxygen to the body, and in this process, there is the possibility of complications such as heart failure, angina pectoris and arrhythmia increase.
Considering these various clinical implications and risk factors, anemia in the elderly is not a problem to be ignored, but rather an appropriate screening test, case evaluation and treatment. Determining the underlying cause of anemia and addressing the problem with appropriate treatment can help improve the overall health and quality of life of older adults. To do this, regular health check-ups, awareness of risk factors, and close observation of associated symptoms are required.
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