Access the full text.
Sign up today, get DeepDyve free for 14 days.
T. Dharmarajan, T. Dharmarajan, S. Avula, E. Norkus, E. Norkus (2007)
Anemia increases risk for falls in hospitalized older adults: an evaluation of falls in 362 hospitalized, ambulatory, long-term care, and community patients.Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 8 3 Suppl 2
K. Boockvar, D. Meier (2006)
Palliative care for frail older adults: "there are things I can't do anymore that I wish I could . . . ".JAMA, 296 18
N. Zakai, R. Katz, C. Hirsch, M. Shlipak, P. Chaves, A. Newman, M. Cushman (2005)
A prospective study of anemia status, hemoglobin concentration, and mortality in an elderly cohort: the Cardiovascular Health Study.Archives of internal medicine, 165 19
B. Penninx, S. Pluijm, P. Lips, R. Woodman, K. Miedema, J. Guralnik, Dorly Deeg (2005)
Late‐Life Anemia Is Associated with Increased Risk of Recurrent FallsJournal of the American Geriatrics Society, 53
K. Steinberg (2006)
Anemia and falls.Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 7 5
R. Eisenstaedt, B. Penninx, R. Woodman (2006)
Anemia in the elderly: current understanding and emerging concepts.Blood reviews, 20 4
To the Editor: Many symptoms and consequences of anemia, especially late-life anemia, are similar to those characterizing frailty (fatigue, weakness, and impaired physical and cognitive performance).1 In Table 1 of their discussion of palliative care for frail older adults, Drs Boockvar and Meier2 summarized operational definitions, assessment, and treatment methods for common symptoms of frailty. Anemia was listed as a remediable cause of fatigue but not as an underlying cause of falls. Although the association between anemia and increased risk of falls among elderly individuals has been recognized,3,4 anemia associated with long-term conditions other than renal disease may not be treated aggressively or considered in risk assessments for falls.5 The accepted definition of anemia (hemoglobin <12 g/dL in women; <13 g/dL in men) may no longer be clinically valid for elderly individuals.6 Symptoms of nonanemic iron depletion (serum ferritin ≤50 ng/mL [≤112 pmol/L]) also may be misinterpreted as age-related frailty and remain untreated. Although the causes of frailty and falls among elderly individuals are numerous and complex, it is important for clinicians to recognize that the physical and cognitive effects of anemia or low iron stores, even when hemoglobin and hematocrit values are normal or near normal, can be devastating to older persons. Ferritin levels and other underlying causes of anemia should be investigated whenever inexplicable symptoms of frailty develop. Back to top Article Information Financial Disclosures: None reported. References 1. Eisenstaedt R, Penninx BW, Woodman RC. Anemia in the elderly: current understanding and emerging concepts. Blood Rev. 2006;20:213-22616472893Google ScholarCrossref 2. Boockvar KS, Meier DE. Palliative care for frail older adults: “there are things I can't do anymore that I wish I could . . . ” JAMA. 2006;296:2245-225317090771Google ScholarCrossref 3. Penninx BW, Pluijm SM, Lips P. et al. Late-life anemia is associated with increased risk of recurrent falls. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005;53:2106-211116398894Google ScholarCrossref 4. Dharmarajan TS, Avula S, Norkus EP. Anemia increases risk for falls in hospitalized older adults: an evaluation of falls in 362 hospitalized, ambulatory, long-term care, and community patients. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2006;7:287-29316765864Google ScholarCrossref 5. Steinberg KE. Anemia and falls. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2006;7:32716765871Google ScholarCrossref 6. Zakai NA, Katz R, Hirsch C. et al. A prospective study of anemia status, hemoglobin concentration, and mortality in an elderly cohort: the Cardiovascular Health Study. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:2214-222016246985Google ScholarCrossref
JAMA – American Medical Association
Published: Mar 21, 2007
Read and print from thousands of top scholarly journals.
Already have an account? Log in
Bookmark this article. You can see your Bookmarks on your DeepDyve Library.
To save an article, log in first, or sign up for a DeepDyve account if you don’t already have one.
Copy and paste the desired citation format or use the link below to download a file formatted for EndNote
Access the full text.
Sign up today, get DeepDyve free for 14 days.
All DeepDyve websites use cookies to improve your online experience. They were placed on your computer when you launched this website. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.