Anaemia and physical decline in elderly

According to recent research, if elderly people are anaemic, they are more likely to develop serious physical problems that might prevent them from leading independent lives.Researchers from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina, USA, examined 1146 men and women who were 71 years of age or older. They were assessed for anaemia - that is, lower levels of haemoglobin - and their physical state was graded from 0 to 12 on the basis of standing balance, a timed walk, and a timed test of rising from a chair five times.It was found that over the 4 years that the patients were followed, those with anaemia had an average decline in physical performance scores of 2.3, but those without anaemia dropped only 1.4 points.

According to the researchers, anaemic individuals had a greater physical decline even when they did not have diseases that often cause anaemia, such as cancer, infection and renal failure. Decreased physical activity in an older person often leads to hospitalisation, nursing home admission, and even death. This statement supports the current study.Since anaemia is usually treatable, the investigators suggest that future research should explore whether the treatment of late-life anaemia results in preservation of physical function of older adults.