The clinical implications and importance of anemia in older women

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate associations between anemia with geriatric syndromes and comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) parameters in older women. Methods: 886 older outpatient women were included . Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin concentration below 12 g/dL. patients were divided into two groups as anemic and non-anemic. The relationships between anemia and CGA parameters/geriatric syndromes were determined. Results: The mean age of the participants was 76.00 +/- 8.91. The prevalence of patients with anemia was 15.35%. There was a significant difference between anemic and non-anemic groups in terms of age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, body mass index, the number of drugs used, and the presence of chronic renal failure (p < 0.05). After adjustment for these covariates, anemia was associated with Timed Up and Go test (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.02-1.18), muscle strength (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.83-0.99), dynapenia (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.06-3.47), Mini Nutritional Assessment scores (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.83-0.94), poor nutritional status (OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.10-3.48), Fried scores (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.24-1.68), frailty (OR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.42-4.69), falls (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.10-2.92) and polypharmacy (OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.38-3.86). Conclusion: In the present study anemia was associated with frailty, polypharmacy, poor nutritional status, falls, and decreased muscle strength. Therefore, anemia may be a sign of poor health status in older women. When anemia is detected in an older woman, CGA should be strongly considered if not routinely performed.