title: Postoperative anemia and quality of life after primary hip arthroplasty in patients over 65 years old.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is uncertain whether anemia in elderly patients after primary hip arthroplasty has an effect on their quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective observational study over 3 mo to investigate the association between discharge hemoglobin levels and subjective experience of quality of life at 2 mo postoperatively in patients aged over 65 yr who were scheduled for primary hip arthroplasty. Quality of life was measured preoperatively and at 2 mo postoperatively using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Anemia (FACT-Anemia) subscale. Pearson correlation coefficients between change in SF-36 and FACT-Anemia subscale scores (from preoperatively to 2 mo postoperatively) and hemoglobin on Day 8 were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-seven patients were included in the study. Data were available at 2 mo postoperatively from 79 of these patients. The correlation between Day 8 postoperative hemoglobin and change in SF-36 was 0.49 (P < 0.0005) and change in FACT-Anemia subscale score was 0.46 (P = < 0.0005). The correlation was not significantly changed after adjusting for advancing age, presence of significant cardiovascular disease, or whether the patient was transfused.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a positive correlation between hemoglobin levels on discharge and change in quality of life scores from preoperatively to 2 mo postoperatively in patients over 65 yr old after primary hip arthroplasty.
authors: Department of Anesthesia, Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, Finglas, Dublin, Ireland. tallniamh@hotmail.com
authors: Niamh P
authors: NP
authors: Conlon
authors: Eilis P
authors: EP
authors: Bale
authors: G Peter
authors: GP
authors: Herbison
authors: Maire
authors: M
authors: McCarroll
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins