Prognostic value of anemia in terms of disability and mortality in hospitalized geriatric patients: results from the CRIME study


Submitted: 7 February 2016
Accepted: 24 March 2016
Published: 14 April 2016
Abstract Views: 1537
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Authors

  • Gloria Brombo Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy.
  • Marta Dianin Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy.
  • Lara Bianchi Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy.
  • Andrea Corsonello Unit of Geriatric Pharmacoepidemiology, Research Hospital of Cosenza, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Cosenza, Italy.
  • Antonio Cherubini Department of Geriatrics, Research Hospital of Ancona, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Ancona, Italy.
  • Carmelinda Ruggiero Unit of Geriatric, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
  • Graziano Onder Research Center on Aging, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
  • Stefano Volpato Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy.
Anemia, a common concern in geriatric population, is associated with several negative outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the independent prognostic value of anemia in the year after hospital discharge, analyzing its association with disability and mortality in a sample of older hospitalized patients. We evaluated 896 in-hospital older patients enrolled in the CRiteria to Assess Appropriate Medication Use among Elderly Complex Patients (CRIME) study, with assessment of hemoglobin levels at hospital admission and with follow-up data. We analyzed the risk of developing disability (in patients without pre-existing disability in activities of the daily living) and the likelihood of death (in the entire sample) in the 12 months after discharge according to presence and degree of anemia (defined by sex-specific World Health Organization criteria). Mean age of study participants was 81.2±7.4 years, 57.8% had prevalent anemia. In unadjusted analysis, anemia was strongly associated with functional status and survival. Nevertheless, the increased risk of disability and death was influenced by the coexistence of several clinical conditions associated with anemia. Indeed, using multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders, the association with disability was strongly attenuated [severe anemia odds ratio (OR) 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.96-3.58, mild-moderate anemia OR 1.05, 95% CI: 0.62-1.80] and the relationship with mortality was no longer significant [severe anemia hazard ratio (HR) 1.13, 95% CI: 0.73-1.75, mild-moderate anemia HR 1.14, 95% CI: 0.78-1.67]. In older hospitalized patients, anemia, despite not influencing mortality, might have a significant disabling effect. Anemia should not be considered as an inevitable epiphenomenon of aging but a condition able to worsen the quality of life.

Supporting Agencies

Italian Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Policy (Bando Giovani Ricercatori 2007, Convenzione N°4)

Brombo, G., Dianin, M., Bianchi, L., Corsonello, A., Cherubini, A., Ruggiero, C., Onder, G., & Volpato, S. (2016). Prognostic value of anemia in terms of disability and mortality in hospitalized geriatric patients: results from the CRIME study. Geriatric Care, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/gc.2016.5803

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