RESUMO
Anaemia is one of the commonest hematological disorders prevalent in elderly population of either sex. WHO suggested any condition with decline of haemoglobin is considered as anaemia. Ferritin an iron storage compound is considered as a well known marker of iron storage. Therefore the present study was designed to evaluate the role of serum ferritin in differential diagnosis of anaemia along with various indices of anaemia and their haematological profile in geriatric population. Methods: Complete blood count included the following: Hb level; and white cell indices such as total leucocyte count (TLC) and differential leucocyte count, as well as corrected TLC. All investigations were carried out on an automated cell counter. Serum ferritin was estimated by automated analyser. Results: The nutrition deficiency anaemia (47.5%) was most common type of anaemia among elderly population. Further, anaemia due to chronic disease (20.2%), Marrow infiltration (8.3%) and multiple myeloma (7.1%) were recorded in the elderly population. serum ferritin level was significantly low in iron deficiency anaemia (151±88 ng/ml) compare to other types of anaemia dual defficency anaemia (157±98 ng/ml). However, ferritin was significantly high in megaloblastic anaemia (210±101 ng/ml) and anaemia of chronic diseases (204±102 ng/ml). Conclusion: Findings of the current study revealed that ferritin can be an important marker for the differential diagnosis of anaemia in elderly population. Moreover, the diagnostic accuracy may be enhanced when PBF and bone marrow findings are combined with clinical examination and other relevant investigations. Biochemical investigation of serum ferritin along with other findings might be helpful in early diagnosis along with accurate aetiology of anaemia in elderly population.