STUDY OF HEMATOLOGICAL PROFILE AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS: A RESTROSPECTIVE STUDY

Over the globe it is estimated that there will be around million more elderly people in coming 15 years which will accumulate to  1.2 billion by 2025 from 765 million older people in 2010(from 8% nearly in 2010 to about 12% by 2025). India has 104 million people over 60 years of age contributing to 8.6% of the total population of country. Anemia is a global health problem in older population associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Thus, it is of prime importance to look for the caused and clinical manifestations of anemia in geriatric population. Material and Methods: 60 case files were selected for this retrospective study where the cases aged more than 60 years of age with anemia. Female patients with Hb less than 12 mg/dL and males with Hb less than 13 mg/dL were considered for the present study. Hematological and clinical profile was studied and analyzed from selected cases. Results: In present study 23(38.3%) cases had iron deficiency anemia which was most common type of anemia followed by 16(26.7%) cases who had Vit. B/folate deficiency anemia. 8(13.3%) cases accounted for anemia of chronic disease followed by 7(11.7%) patients with anemia related to hematologic malignancy. Chronic Kidney disease is another cause of anemia which accounted for 5(8.3%) of cases in this study while similar number of patients had an unknown cause of anemia. Hypothyroidism counted for 4(6.7%) of cases of anemic patients. Conclusion: Failure to evaluate anemia in elderly lead to delayed diagnosis of potentially treatable conditions. Nonspecific symptoms like fatigue and weakness should not be ignored, presuming that they are part of ‘’normal ageing’’. An effort should always be made to reach etiological diagnosis before instituting specific therapy. Keywords: Hb, Hypothyroidism, anemia, Chronic Kidney disease, Vit. B