Anemia Increases Risk of Death in the Parent

Sources: spiritinfusion.blogspot.com
By: dr. Tri Rejeki Herdiana

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


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

Anemia in the elderly is associated with an increased risk of death associated with decreased mobility, cognitive impairment, depression, falls and fractures, hospitalization, and decreased quality of life. This greatly affects the health and costs in old age.

In the study, the risk of death is equal among male and female gender as well as in those with health facilities in the neighborhood. 'We found the incidence of anemia in participants older than 85 years greater than those aged 85 years.' said Ms. Wendy den Elzen of the Leiden University Medical Center.

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