Anemia In The Elderly

Anemia in the elderly, known as the silent epidemic, afflicts 3 million people in the U.S. ages 65 or older. This reference, complete with the most recent findings, answers all the crucial questions regarding anemia in the elderly.

This issue of Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, Guest Edited by William B. Ershler, MD of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Aging and Geriatric Medicine, is devoted to Anemia in the Older Adult. Articles in this important issue include: Aging and Hematopoiesis; Prevalence of Anemia in Older Populations; Functional Consequences of Anemia in Older Patients; Mechanisms of Anemia in Older Populations; Unexplained Anemia in Older Populations; Significance of Elevated RDW in Older Populations; Iron Deficiency; Vitamin B12; Myelodysplasia; Chronic Kidney Disease and Anemia in Older Populations; Inflammation, Aging and Anemia; Emergence of Sickle Cell Disease in Older Populations; Heyde’s Syndrome; and Special Considerations for Anemia in the Nursing Home.

This book deals with a very common condition, anemia, which might interest not only the physicians but also other healthcare professionals and researchers dealing with anemic patients. The objective of this book was to collect and compile up-to-date information from reputable researchers of different countries of the world to disseminate the latest information about the common types of anemia in some specific physiological and pathological conditions including pathophysiology and the use of algorithms as a tool to minimize the laboratory tests and accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause. In total, there are 13 chapters in this book where the authors shared their research findings and real-life experiences in managing their patients with anemia.

This text provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of anemia in the young and old. The first section of the volume features age-specific diagnostic approaches to anemia, from the perinatal period to the elderly, with a particular emphasis on age-specific epidemiology, differential diagnosis, and testing. The second section focuses on specific anemia disorders, including inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, iron deficiency anemia, renal anemia, pure red cell anemia, and anemia of inflammation and chronic disease. Each chapter in this section revolves around a specific syndrome or group of syndromes, and addresses pathophysiology, diagnostic issues, natural history/prognosis, and treatment. Written by experts in the field, Anemia in the Young and Old: Diagnosis and Management is a valuable resource for clinicians and practitioners who treat the pediatric and elderly patient population afflicted with anemia.

Investigations of nutritional anemias of pregnancy made by WHO in India, Israel, Mexico, Poland and Venezuela have shown that the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women ranges from 21% to 80%. Iron deficiency was present in 40-99% of these women and has been responsible for the major occurrences of anemia. Studies on the absorption of iron from various foods indicated that it is necessary to express dietary iron intake in terms of both total iron intake and its absorbability. Loss of body iron occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, urine, sweat, by exfoliation of skin, and through blood loss attributed to parasitic infection. The optimum dietary requirements of iron when absorbed cover physiological losses and conditions such as growth and pregnancy. The total iron demanded during pregnancy is about 900 mg of which 200 mg is lost during and immediately following delivery. The iron requirement increases greatly during pregnancy and since the high requirment during the last trimester cannot be met from consumed food, the diet must be supplemented by administration of medicinal iron. The strengthening of education programs for mothers, sanitary measures particularly in rural areas, the supplementing of foods with iron by enriching wheat flour and baby foods, the supplementing of medicinal iron during pregnancy, the daily administration of small amounts of iron to schoolchildren and further studies on nutritional anemias are all means of changing the present nutritional status.

Cardiovascular, respiratory, and related conditions cause more than 40 percent of all deaths globally, and their substantial burden is rising, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Their burden extends well beyond health effects to include significant economic and societal consequences. Most of these conditions are related, share risk factors, and have common control measures at the clinical, population, and policy levels. Lives can be extended and improved when these diseases are prevented, detected, and managed. This volume summarizes current knowledge and presents evidence-based interventions that are effective, cost-effective, and scalable in LMICs.

Geriatric is a topic of great interest in medicine and among the general public. Population aging is an inevitable and irreversible demographic reality that is associated with welcome improvements in health care. The increase in life expectancy has led the very old to become the fastest-growing segment. The geriatric population experiences significant alterations of numerous organ systems as a result of the aging process. Normally, functional reserve and organ functions are declined in geriatric patients. The care of geriatric patients can be complex and will be a growing task. A balance between physiological and psychological alterations is required in these patients. Geriatric patients also have several co-morbidities including hypertension, cardiac disease, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, and renal dysfunction.

The developed world has an increasingly aging population, with approximately 10% of the population aged over 65 years. As the incidence and prevalence of blood disorders increases with age, these conditions are a heavy burden on healthcare systems. Blood Disorders in the Elderly will provide hematologists, geriatricians and all clinicians involved in the care of patients with blood disorders with clear clinical advice on the diagnosis and management of these conditions. The introductory section reviews epidemiology of aging and anemia and provides a comprehensive approach to the management of cancer in the aging patient. This is followed by a full discussion of hemopoiesis and changes it undergoes in aging. The remaining sections cover the diagnosis and management of all major disorders: anemia, malignancy, coagulation and platelet disorders and hemophilia. A detailed chapter on antithrombotic therapies is also included.