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Anemia and hemoglobin levels in older persons: relationship with age, gender, and health status.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Salive, ME; Cornoni-Huntley, J; Guralnik, JM; Phillips, CL; Wallace, RB; Ostfeld, AM; Cohen, HJ
Published in: J Am Geriatr Soc
May 1992

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship of hemoglobin levels and anemia with age and health status in older adults. DESIGN: Survey. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Hematologic tests were obtained from 3,946 adults aged greater than or equal to 71 years in three communities (East Boston, MA; Iowa and Washington counties, IA; and New Haven, CT). RESULTS: Hemoglobin level was inversely associated with age, although this was more pronounced in men than in women. The proportion anemic was equal for men and women aged 71-74 years (8.6%) and increased differentially with age, reaching 41% and 21% for men and women aged greater than or equal to 90 years, respectively. Hemoglobin and anemia were independently associated with age, race, body-mass index, smoking, cancer, hospitalization, renal insufficiency, and hypoalbuminemia. The adjusted relative odds of anemia for a 5-year increase in age was 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-1.8) for men and 1.2 (95% CI 1.1-1.4) for women. CONCLUSIONS: Age is significantly associated with both hemoglobin levels and anemia, with a stronger effect in men compared with women, even after simultaneously adjusting for demographic characteristics and health status. The decline of hemoglobin and concomitant increased anemia with age is not necessarily a result of "normal aging" so the detection of anemia in an older person should prompt appropriate clinical attention.

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Published In

J Am Geriatr Soc

DOI

ISSN

0002-8614

Publication Date

May 1992

Volume

40

Issue

5

Start / End Page

489 / 496

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sex Factors
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hemoglobins
  • Health Status
  • Health Behavior
  • Geriatrics
  • Female
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Anemia
 

Citation

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Salive, M. E., Cornoni-Huntley, J., Guralnik, J. M., Phillips, C. L., Wallace, R. B., Ostfeld, A. M., & Cohen, H. J. (1992). Anemia and hemoglobin levels in older persons: relationship with age, gender, and health status. J Am Geriatr Soc, 40(5), 489–496. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1992.tb02017.x
Salive, M. E., J. Cornoni-Huntley, J. M. Guralnik, C. L. Phillips, R. B. Wallace, A. M. Ostfeld, and H. J. Cohen. “Anemia and hemoglobin levels in older persons: relationship with age, gender, and health status.J Am Geriatr Soc 40, no. 5 (May 1992): 489–96. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1992.tb02017.x.
Salive ME, Cornoni-Huntley J, Guralnik JM, Phillips CL, Wallace RB, Ostfeld AM, et al. Anemia and hemoglobin levels in older persons: relationship with age, gender, and health status. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1992 May;40(5):489–96.
Salive, M. E., et al. “Anemia and hemoglobin levels in older persons: relationship with age, gender, and health status.J Am Geriatr Soc, vol. 40, no. 5, May 1992, pp. 489–96. Pubmed, doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1992.tb02017.x.
Salive ME, Cornoni-Huntley J, Guralnik 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 May;40(5):489–496.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Am Geriatr Soc

DOI

ISSN

0002-8614

Publication Date

May 1992

Volume

40

Issue

5

Start / End Page

489 / 496

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sex Factors
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hemoglobins
  • Health Status
  • Health Behavior
  • Geriatrics
  • Female
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Anemia