Anemia Increased Death Risk in elderly people

Research published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) in July 2009 which states that anemia occurs in elderly people aged 85 years or more can increase the risk of death.

This research is part of the research Leiden 85-plus involving 562 elderly people aged 85 years in the Netherlands and this study followed the subjects until they are 90 years old. Twenty-seven percent of respondents had anemia at the beginning of the study. At follow-up period, incidence of anemia increased to 24% of respondents who did not have anemia at the beginning of the study.

Anemia in older people is associated with increased risk of death associated with decreased mobility, cognitive disorders, depression, falls and fractures, hospitalization, and decreased quality of life. This greatly affects the cost of health and old age.

In the study, the same risk of death among male and female gender and also to those with health facilities in the neighborhood. 'We found the incidence of anemia in participants over the age of 85 years greater than those aged 85 years.' Said Ms. Wendy den Elzen from the Leiden University Medical Center.

Dr. Mark Clarfield from Ben-Gurion University and Dr. Ora Paltiel of Hebrew University-Hadassah Israel says, 'For the cause of anemia is uncertain, we have not been able to decipher whether the underlying cause of anemia experienced or who caused the death. "