Significance of a low serum ferritin level in elderly in-patients.
Iron deficiency, defined as a serum ferritin level less than or equal to 50 micrograms/l was found in 28 (11%) of 252 consecutive elderly in-patients (mean age 81 years). Sixteen among them were anaemic and only five had a microcytic anaemia. In a separate study, 15 anaemic and 13 non-anaemic iron-deficient elderly in-patients were investigated in order to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and lesions in both groups. In nine of the anaemic and seven of the non-anaemic patients a potential cause for the iron deficiency was established. Most anaemic and non-anaemic patients lacked the symptoms described as suggestive of underlying gastrointestinal pathology. Thus, a ferritin level less than or equal to 50 micrograms/l justifies a gastrointestinal investigation if the general condition allows for it as well in anaemic as in non-anaemic elderly hospitalized patients. Therefore, serum ferritin should be part of the routine biochemical investigation of elderly in-patients.
Joosten
E
E
Division of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospitals, K.U. Leuven, Belgium.
Dereymaeker
L
L
Pelemans
W
W
Hiele
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence
D005293:Ferritins