Original articles
A descriptive study of anaemia in the elderly at a tertiary care institute in Sri Lanka
Authors:
Kossinnage Chethana Chathurangani ,
Colombo North Teaching Hospital, LK
Leeniyagala Gamaralalage Thamal Darshana,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura, LK
About Leeniyagala Gamaralalage
Faculty of Allied Health Sciences,
Rusiru Amaranath Premathil,
Colombo North Teaching Hospital, LK
Yasintha Jeevani Costa,
Colombo North Teaching Hospital, LK
A. A. Deepa Sudharshani Amarasekara,
Colombo North Teaching Hospital, LK
Anuja Padmanatha Premawardhena
University of Kelaniya, LK
About Anuja Padmanatha
Faculty of Medicine
Abstract
Introduction: Anaemia is a commonly encountered condition among the elderly population which calls for further evaluation to identify the cause and to prevent complications.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence, causes and complications related to anaemia among elderly patients admitted to two medical wards (15/16) of Colombo North (Teaching) Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka.
Methods: Patients aged over>65 years admitted to the above wards between April –Sep 2020 and who had anaemia were included in the study. Clinical and nutritional data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Laboratory findings were extracted from hospital records.
Results: The majority of the patients were females (63.2%; n = 129). The mean age was 72.5 years (65 – 92 years). Most of the patients (62.3%; n = 127) were symptomatic for anaemia at the time of hospital admission. The majority of the participants (75.5%; n = 154) did not demonstrate any complications related to anaemia. The severity of the anaemia was moderate among more than half of the patients (52.5%; n=107). Anaemia of chronic disease (54.4%; n=111) was the commonest etiological category detected. The majority of the cases with anaemia of chronic disease were due to chronic renal insufficiency (73.9%; n=82). The severity of the anaemia increased significantly with the presence of chronic disease (p 0.030).
Conclusion: Most patients in the present study had moderate anaemia whilst anaemia of chronic disease was the leading aetiological class contributor. Community-based studies are needed to understand the true burden of anaemia in the ageing population in Sri Lanka.
How to Cite:
Chathurangani, K.C., Darshana, L.G.T., Premathil, R.A., Costa, Y.J., Amarasekara, A.A.D.S. and Premawardhena, A.P., 2022. A descriptive study of anaemia in the elderly at a tertiary care institute in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Medical Journal, 67(3), pp.94–101. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cmj.v67i3.9696
Published on
30 Dec 2022.
Peer Reviewed
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