Anemia in Elderly Raises Risk of Falls
Anemia in Elderly Raises Risk of Falls
Dec. 12, 2005 (Atlanta) -- Elderly people who are anemic have a higher risk for injuries from falls, such as fractures or head injuries, according to a study.
The research was reported at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology in Atlanta.
Elderly people who are anemic may have up to three times the risk of falls resulting in injury than those with normal blood counts, says Richard C. Woodman, MD. Woodman is senior medical director at Ortho Biotech, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary.
"Most of the reasons for falls in the elderly aren't treatable or reversible, but anemia potentially is reversible," Woodman tells WebMD. "That is why there is a lot of excitement in the potential link of anemia and falls."
James George, MD, says there is increasing interest in anemia in the elderly, which could be a clue of an undiagnosed disease or may be an important risk factor on its own. George is president of the American Society of Hematology and professor of medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.
"The study shows that degrees of anemia normally not expected to be of major importance in younger people may have a major impact on the health and well-being of the elderly," he says. "The bottom line is that if an older person is anemic it puts them at high risk of hip and head injuries."
The researchers studied health claims data from 30 health plans from January 1999 through April 2004 in 47,530 patients over the age of 65. The patients had had a hemoglobin measurement taken.
Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells. It is used in the evaluation of anemia. Elderly men with a hemoglobin measurement of less than 13 grams per deciliter (g/dL) were considered anemic; women with hemoglobin less than 12 g/dL were considered anemic.
Injuries were defined as fractures of the hip, pelvis, back, ribs, and lower limbs, as well as head injuries and hematoma (a collection of blood in soft tissue or an organ).
The study's results showed that anemia was significantly and independently associated with an increased risk of injurious falls, especially hip and head injuries.
The research was reported at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology in Atlanta.
Elderly people who are anemic may have up to three times the risk of falls resulting in injury than those with normal blood counts, says Richard C. Woodman, MD. Woodman is senior medical director at Ortho Biotech, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary.
Youth vs. Elderly
"Most of the reasons for falls in the elderly aren't treatable or reversible, but anemia potentially is reversible," Woodman tells WebMD. "That is why there is a lot of excitement in the potential link of anemia and falls."
James George, MD, says there is increasing interest in anemia in the elderly, which could be a clue of an undiagnosed disease or may be an important risk factor on its own. George is president of the American Society of Hematology and professor of medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.
"The study shows that degrees of anemia normally not expected to be of major importance in younger people may have a major impact on the health and well-being of the elderly," he says. "The bottom line is that if an older person is anemic it puts them at high risk of hip and head injuries."
Risks to Hip and Head
The researchers studied health claims data from 30 health plans from January 1999 through April 2004 in 47,530 patients over the age of 65. The patients had had a hemoglobin measurement taken.
Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells. It is used in the evaluation of anemia. Elderly men with a hemoglobin measurement of less than 13 grams per deciliter (g/dL) were considered anemic; women with hemoglobin less than 12 g/dL were considered anemic.
Injuries were defined as fractures of the hip, pelvis, back, ribs, and lower limbs, as well as head injuries and hematoma (a collection of blood in soft tissue or an organ).
The study's results showed that anemia was significantly and independently associated with an increased risk of injurious falls, especially hip and head injuries.
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