OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics, prevalence and prognostic of anemia in older patients admitted to an acute geriatric unit. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective descriptive study was conducted on patients admitted to a geriatric unit. Anemia was defined using the World Health Organization criteria. A comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed on all patients. When possible, a telephone follow-up re-evaluation (mortality, functional status) was performed one year after discharge. RESULTS: A total of 145 patients were studied. The mean age was 81 years, and 93 (64.13%) were anemic. Chronic diseases and iron deficiency anemia were the most frequent. Anemic patients had lower scores in the Barthel Index (P<.05). The mortality one year after discharge was 47.9%, with no differences between anemic or non-anemic patients (OR 2.07, [0.98-4.4]). All the geriatric indexes (Barthel index; Charlson comorbidity index, Mini-mental state examination and Mini Nutritional Assessment) showed worse scores in patients who died one year after discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of anemia in the elderly admitted to a geriatric unit is elevated, and associated with a poorer functional status.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics, prevalence and prognostic of anemia in older patients admitted to an acute geriatric unit. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective descriptive study was conducted on patients admitted to a geriatric unit. Anemia was defined using the World Health Organization criteria. A comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed on all patients. When possible, a telephone follow-up re-evaluation (mortality, functional status) was performed one year after discharge. RESULTS: A total of 145 patients were studied. The mean age was 81 years, and 93 (64.13%) were anemic. Chronic diseases and iron deficiency anemia were the most frequent. Anemicpatients had lower scores in the Barthel Index (P<.05). The mortality one year after discharge was 47.9%, with no differences between anemic or non-anemicpatients (OR 2.07, [0.98-4.4]). All the geriatric indexes (Barthel index; Charlson comorbidity index, Mini-mental state examination and Mini Nutritional Assessment) showed worse scores in patients who died one year after discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of anemia in the elderly admitted to a geriatric unit is elevated, and associated with a poorer functional status.