Anaemia among elderly in Alexandria: an epidemiologic study

ABSTRACT

Anaemia among elderly in Alexandria was investigated using cluster probability sampling technique. The sample included 122 males and 219 females. The age ranged from 55 years to 91 years. More than half of the males [66.4%] and females [61.6%] were sufferring from anaemia. More than three quarters of elderly with anaemia among males [75.3%] and females [82.9%] were of the hypochromic type. No statistical significant difference was found between both sexes among different age groups concerning haemoglobin level, hematocrit, RBC's count, MCV, MCH and MCHC. Multiple and partial correlation analysis of haemoglobin with age, crowding index and income per capita showed no statistical significance. The study of sociodemographic variables [age, marital status, level of education, crowding index and income per capita] among elderly with different types of anaemia and those without anaemia showed no statistical significant difference