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Treatment options for anemia in the elderly.

Transfusion and apheresis science : official journal of the World Apheresis Association : official journal of the European Society for Haemapheresis
August 1, 2019
Fabiana Busti et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the challenges and potential of iron supplementation in treating anemia in the elderly, including diagnostic limitations and emerging therapeutic options.

Results Summary

The study highlights that iron supplementation has been underutilized due to diagnostic challenges and adverse effects of traditional preparations, but newer formulations and innovative drugs like hepcidin modulators show promise for improving treatment outcomes.

Population

Elderly individuals with anemia, particularly those with comorbidities.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
transfusions
no change
therapeutic approaches to anemia in elderly
elderly
-
limited
#1
supplementation with hematinics, including group B vitamins and iron
no change
therapeutic approaches to anemia in elderly
elderly
-
limited
#2
iron supplementation
decrease
treatment of anemia in elderly
elderly
-
underutilized
#3
new oral and intravenous iron preparations
increase
treatment of anemia
elderly
-
look promising
#4
innovative anti-anemic drugs, like hepcidin modulators, Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) stabilizers, and activin type II receptor agonists
increase
therapeutic armamentarium to anemia in elderly
elderly
-
may substantially improve
#5
Abstract

Anemia in elderly (AE), though often mild, is quite common and independently associated with important clinical outcomes, including decreased quality of life, risk of falls and fractures, cognitive decline, increased length of hospital stay, and even mortality. AE is generally overlooked, and hence undertreated, especially when comorbidities distract the attention of physicians and caregivers. This also partially reflects difficulties in dissecting the cause(s) of AE, which is typically multifactorial, as well as our limited diagnostic approach often categorizing AE as apparently "unexplained". Therapeutic approaches have been traditionally limited to transfusions, or supplementation with hematinics, including group B vitamins and iron. The latter has been largely underutilized, because of missing diagnosis of iron deficiency using inappropriate laboratory thresholds, as well as complex schedule and adverse effects associated with traditional preparations. After decades of stagnation, new oral and intravenous iron preparations look promising, particularly in the elderly. Moreover, a number of innovative anti-anemic drugs, like hepcidin modulators, Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) stabilizers, and activin type II receptor agonists are entering the clinical arena and may substantially improve our therapeutic armamentarium to AE in the near future.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Administration, IntravenousAgedAged, 80 and overAnemiaHealth Services for the AgedHematinicsHumansIronIron DeficienciesIron Metabolism Disorders
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety60
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations9
Citations/Year1.5
Relative Citation Ratio0.46
NIH Percentile24.9%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score2.14
Normalized Score0.70
Related Supplements
Treatment options for anemia in the elderly. | Panacea Index