Anemia and Hemoglobin Levels in Older Persons: Relationship with Age, Gender, and Health Status

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relationship of hemoglobin levels and anemia with age and health status in older adults. Design: Survey. Setting: Community. Participants and Methods: Hematologic tests were obtained from 3,946 adults aged ≥71 years in three communities (East Boston, MA; Iowa and Washington counties, IA; and New Haven, CT). Results: Hemoglobin level was inversely associated with age, although this was more pronounced in men than in women. The proportion anemic was equal for men and women aged 71–74 years (8.6%) and increased differentially with age, reaching 41% and 21% for men and women aged ≥90 years, respectively. Hemoglobin and anemia were independently associated with age, race, body‐mass index, smoking, cancer, hospitalization, renal insufficiency, and hypoalbuminemia. The adjusted relative odds of anemia for a 5‐year increase in age was 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3–1.8) for men and 1.2 (95% CI 1.1–1.4) for women. Conclusions: Age is significantly associated with both hemoglobin levels and anemia, with a stronger effect in men compared with women, even after simultaneously adjusting for demographic characteristics and health status. The decline of hemoglobin and concomitant increased anemia with age is not necessarily a result of “normal aging” so the detection of anemia in an older person should prompt appropriate clinical attention.