Abstract:
This study is a case control analysis, with fifty elderly anemic cases that meet the WHO
definition of anemia and fifty non-anemic controls, matched for age and sex. This comparative
study aims to determine how anemia hastens the onset of cognitive decline and functional
disability in the elderly. Furthermore, it assesses the comprehensive clinical profile of fifty
elderly cases of anemia, which will aid in determining the prevalence of common anemia types,
dietary patterns, drug history, clinical manifestations, and the most common aetiology leading
to occurrence of anemia.
Standardised scales such as the Katz ADL and Lawton IADL were used to evaluate the
functional capacity of the cases and controls. Cognition assessment was done using MOCA
scale. Data for clinical profile was collected by thorough history taking, clinical examination
and lab investigations.
Female preponderance was seen in our study and mean age of the study population was
69.8 years. Iron deficiency anemia was the most common type of anemia and the most common
etiology leading to occurrence of anemia was due to poor bioavailability secondary to various
causes. Katz ADL assessment among the cases and controls revealed a significant odds ratio
(OR = 15.8) which implies the odds of anemic elderly getting their daily activities impaired
were found sixteen fold higher than non-anemic elderly. The Lawton IADL performed on study
population revealed a considerable odds ratio (OR = 10.62) which implies that the anemic
elderly are eleven times more prone to get dependent on others for their instrumental activities
of day to day life. MOCA assessment performed among the cases and controls reveals that
odds of anemic elderly undergoing cognition decline is tenfold higher than the non-anemic
elderly (OR = 9.75).
Considering this note, anemia not only impairs the older individuals physically but it
also impacts their mental capacity which will make older people more dependent on caretakers
to do everyday tasks. Due to their greater dependence on others, elderly people in developing
nations like India, where there is a shortage of skilled caregivers, face a costly dilemma that
increases their vulnerability to elder abuse in multiple ways. Therefore, the government should
take action to raise awareness about the need of early diagnosis and treatment of anemia in the
elderly in order to prevent functional impairment and cognitive decline and preserve their
quality of life.
