Patterns of Anemia in Geriatric Patients: A Hospital based Observational Study at Tertiary Care Centre in Gujarat, India

Background: Anemia in geriatric patients is a global health problem and it can cause more severe complications than in the younger adults. The aim of this study was to study clinico – pathological profile, morphological and hematological characteristics of the anemia in geriatric patients.

Materials and Methods: This observational study was carried out at Central laboratory, Department of Pathology, Dhiraj General Hospital, Vadodara. Total of 150 geriatric patients attending the various clinical OPDs were included in the study. Detailed demographical, clinical, hematological and other required data were collected and analyzed using Microsoft excel and graphpad software.

Results: In our study, out of 150, 123 patients were found to be having anaemia as per the WHO criteria of diagnosis of anemia. The prevalence of anemia in our study was 82% with maximum cases in 60-69 years age group. Out of 123 cases, 57(46.3%) were males and 66(53.7%) were females. Fatigue (113) and breathlessness (96) were the most frequently reported symptoms. Microcytic hypochromic anemia (61.9%) was the most common morphological type. Highest numbers of cases were seen in moderate grade (68).

Conclusion: All geriatric patients should undergo regular routine blood investigations to diagnose the anemia at the earliest. Timely and prompt intervention can prevent the further course of anemia and help in improving the overall quality of life.