ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine reference values for elderly blacks and to compare them to those in use in local hospitals and in other countries in the region. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Sekuru Kaguvi Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe. SUBJECTS: 151 persons of age 45 years or more. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Haematological parameters investigated were Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC, Plt, RBC and WBC. RESULTS: 56 males and 95 females tok part in the study. RBC, Hb and Hct mean values were significantly higher (p=0.004, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) in males than in females. However, no significant differences between sexes were found in WBC (p=0.137), MCHC (p=0.273), MCV (p=0.090) and MCH (p=0.074). Platelet counts were significantly higher (p=0.040) in females [median (Q1, Q3): 251 (117, 478)] than in males, 226 (122, 251). These haematogological vales were notably different compared with those in current use in local hospitals. The mean values obtained for each index were comparable with those obtanied in other countries in the same region (Southern Africa) as Harare. The reference values for the elderly blacks are presented. CONCLUSION: The importance of gender and population specific reference values cannot be over emphasised. The reference values obtained in the current study should be appropriate for evaluating haematological test results in elderly blacks in Zimbabwe.
