The Relationship between Frailty and Anemia in Older Adults

Year 2021, Volume: 4 Issue: 3, 78 - 83, 31.12.2021

Feyza Mutlay Kübra Altunkalem Seydi

https://doi.org/10.47141/geriatrik.1033806

Abstract

Aim: Anemia is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults. There is a strong association between anemia and poor physical performance. However, the effect of anemia on frailty is not known clearly. This study focuses on the relationship between anemia and frailty.

Material and Methods: Comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed on 383 patients who were followed up in the Geriatrics Clinic. All patients were questioned in terms of comorbidity. The diagnosis of anemia was accepted as a hemoglobin level below 12.2 g/dL in women and 13.2 g/dL in men.

Results: Anemia was detected in 103 (26.9%) patients. The mean age of the patients was significantly higher in the anemia group (p=0.01). It was determined that the individuals in the anemia group had a higher number of drug use, diabetes mellitus, and depression. According to the Fried frailty scale, the frailty score was significantly higher in anemic individuals (p<0.01). Poor results obtained from POMA (Mobility-Balance Evaluation Test in the Direction of Performance), Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Up and Go Test, Mini Nutrition Assessment-Short Form tests used in Comprehensive geriatric assessment were found in the anemia group (p<0.01). When the participants' data were adjusted for age, gender, and duration of education, a significant correlation was found between the frequency of anemia and frailty (Odds Ratio 1.82 95% Confidence Interval 1.03-3.20 P=0.03).

Conclusion: Anemia is an easily screenable laboratory finding but may be associated with frailty and poor health outcomes in the elderly. Therefore, it is recommended that older individuals with anemia be evaluated comprehensively for diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords

Fraility, anemia, geriatric syndrome, older adult

Yaşlı Erişkinlerde Kırılganlık ve Anemi Arasındaki İlişki

Abstract

Amaç: Anemi yaşlı erişkinlerde morbidite ve mortalitenin yaygın bir nedenidir. Anemi ile düşük fiziksel performans arasında güçlü ilişki vardır. Ancak aneminin kırılganlık sendromu üzerindeki etkisi net olarak bilinmemektedir. Bu çalışma, anemi ve kırılganlık arasındaki ilişkiye odaklanmaktadır.

Gereç ve Yöntemler: Geriatri Kliniğinde takipli 383 hasta çalışmaya alınarak, hastalara ayrıntılı geriatrik değerlendirme uygulandı. Tüm hastalar komorbidite açısından sorgulandı. Anemi tanısı kadınlarda hemoglobin seviyesinin 12,2 g/dL ve erkeklerde 13,2 g/dL’nin altında olması olarak kabul edildi.

Bulgular: Hastaların 103’ünde (%26,9) anemi saptandı. Hastaların yaş ortalaması anemisi olan grupta anlamlı olarak daha yüksekti (p=0,01). Anemisi olan gruptaki bireylerin ilaç kullanım sayısının daha fazla olduğu, diabetes mellitus ve depresyonun daha yüksek olduğu saptandı. Fried kırılganlık ölçeğine göre anemik bireylerde kırılganlık skoru anlamlı olarak daha yüksekti (p<0,01). Ayrıntılı Geriatrik Değerlendirmede kullanılan POMA (Performans Doğrultusunda Mobilite-Denge Değerlendirme Testi), Temel ve Enstrumental Günlük Yaşam Aktiviteleri, Kalk ve Yürü Testi, Mini Nutrisyon Değerlendirme-Kısa Formu testlerinden alınan kötü sonuçların anemi grubunda daha fazla olduğu saptandı (p<0,01). Katılımcıların verilerinde yaş, cinsiyet, eğitim süresine göre düzeltme yapıldığında anemi ile kırılganlık (Odds Oranı 1,82 %95 Güven Aralığı 1,03-3,20 P=0,03) sıklığı arasında anlamlı ilişki olduğu görüldü.

Sonuç: Anemi, kolaylıkla taranabilen bir laboratuvar bulgusudur, ancak yaşlılarda kırılganlıkla ve kötü sağlık sonuçlarıyla ilişkili olabilir. Bu nedenle, anemisi olan yaşlı bireylerin tanı ve tedavi için çok yönlü değerlendirilmesi önerilir.

Keywords

Kırılganlık, anemi, geriatrik sendrom, yaşlı

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