Results of comprehensive geriatric evaluation in outpatients over 65 years old depending on the presence of anemia. Subanalysis of the EVKALIPT study

Objective. To compare the results of a comprehensive geriatric assessment in outpatients aged 65 and over with the presence or absence of anemia. Materials and methods. The results of subanalysis of the EVKALIPT multicenter cross-sectional trial, in which 2547 outpatient patients (32% of them — men) aged 65 years and over (median — 77 years) took part, were presented. All participants underwent a comprehensive geriatric evaluation according to the conventional procedure. Anemia was diagnosed at hemoglobin level below 130 g/l in men and below 120 g/l in women. Results. Incidence rate of anemia amounted to 18.7%. A comprehensive geriatric assessment showed that patients with anemia have worse physical and mental health, lower physical and functional activity and education level. Patients with anemia are more comorbid, more often have I disability group. The presence of anemia in outpatient elderly patients increases the chances of detecting a number of geriatric syndromes (senile asthenia, cognitive disorders, depression, basic and instrumental dependence in everyday life, hearing impairment, falls, sarcopenia, malnutrition) by 1.3—3.4 times according to the data of univariate regression analysis. Multivariate regression analysis has shown that cognitive disorders (odds ratio (OR) 1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04—1.71; p=0.024), hearing impairment (OR 1.46; 95% CI 1.04—2.05; p=0.027), instrumental dependence in everyday life (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.44—2.34; p<0.001) and malnutrition (OR 2.37; 95% CI 1.45—3.88; p=0.001) are independently associated with anemia in outpatients aged 65 years and over. Conclusion. Outpatients with anemia aged 65 years and over have the worst geriatric status compared to the ones without anemia.