Decreased physical strength, cognitive dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease
It should be screened, evaluated, and treated aggressively.
A 72-year-old woman recently underwent a health examination and was found to be anemic. She did have some fatigue or some shortness of breath, but she attributed it to her 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 in the elderly over 65 is up to 23%. Although the prevalence is not low, awareness of the disease itself is not high, and there is even a tendency to regard the decrease in hemoglobin level as a natural phenomenon due to aging. The truth is not so. Most older people maintain normal levels.
There are many causes of senile anemia. One of them is a deficiency of essential nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid. This can be caused by a decrease in the absorption capacity of the stomach due to aging, 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 infections. These chronic conditions can affect red blood cell production or shorten the lifespan of red blood cells. Third, bone marrow function is reduced. It can be caused by bone marrow deterioration due to aging or malignant diseases such as myelodysplastic syndrome, aplastic anemia, and hematological cancer.
Nutrient deficiencies, 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 association between anemia and cancer mortality in the elderly cannot be overlooked. As you get older, the number of medications you take increases, and some medications cause anemia. For example, anticancer drugs, antibiotics, anticonvulsants, antirheumatic drugs, acid secretion inhibitors, and thiazide diuretics can cause anemia. Of course, if you take medication for a long time, your doctor will prescribe it while controlling the risk.
Anemia in the elderly is associated with multiple health risks and quality of life. First of all, anemia reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, causing fatigue and loss of physical strength and making it difficult to maintain 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 that causes 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. In a similar vein, existing cardiovascular disease problems may be exacerbated or new problems may arise. When the amount 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, the possibility of complications such as heart failure, angina pectoris, and arrhythmia increases.
Considering these various clinical implications and risk factors, anemia in the elderly is not a problem to be overlooked, but an appropriate screening test, cause evaluation, and treatment. Determining the underlying cause of anemia and addressing the problem with appropriate treatment can help improve the health and overall quality of life of older adults. To do this, regular health checkups, awareness of risk factors, and close observation of related symptoms are required.
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