title: The prevalence of anemia, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies in community dwelling elderly in Ankara, Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anemia is a common problem among older people. Deficiency of essential erythropoiesis elements (iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid) is one of the major causes of anemia in older people. Studies evaluated prevalence of anemia in our country generally consisted of older people admitted to hospital. Studies conducted on community dwelling older people were much more less. The aim of this study is to evaluate prevalence of anemia and nutritional deficiencies in community dwelling elderly in our country. Totally 827 elderly individuals living in community participated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anemia was defined according to the World Health Organization (Hb<13 g/dl for men and Hb<12 g/dl for women). Iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies were evaluated. Iron deficiency anemia was diagnosed when anemia with iron level<60 μg/dl and ferritin level<12 ng/ml. Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia was diagnosed when anemia with vitamin B12 level<200 pg/ml. Folic acid deficiency anemia was diagnosed when anemia with folic acid level<2.6 ng/ml.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of anemia was found 7.3%. Prevalence of iron deficiency, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiency were found 7.1%, 64.2% and 10.9%, and 10.9%, respectively. Prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was found 2.8%. Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia was found 4.4% and folic acid deficiency anemia was found 1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of anemia was seen 7.3% in our study, but more studies are needed on anemia in community dwelling elderly in our country. Deficiency of iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid is also high in Turkey.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ankara University School of Medicine, Uğur Mumcu Street, 69/9 Gazi Osman Paşa Çankaya, Cebeci, Ankara 06110, Turkey. Electronic address: tekindoktor@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Tekin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ankara University School of Medicine, Uğur Mumcu Street, 69/9 Gazi Osman Paşa Çankaya, Cebeci, Ankara 06110, Turkey. Electronic address: ahmetemreyalcin@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yalcin
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ankara University School of Medicine, Uğur Mumcu Street, 69/9 Gazi Osman Paşa Çankaya, Cebeci, Ankara 06110, Turkey. Electronic address: volkanatmis@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Atmis
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ankara University School of Medicine, Uğur Mumcu Street, 69/9 Gazi Osman Paşa Çankaya, Cebeci, Ankara 06110, Turkey. Electronic address: okarslan29@mynet.com.
authors.forename: Ozlem Karaarslan
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Cengiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ankara University School of Medicine, Uğur Mumcu Street, 69/9 Gazi Osman Paşa Çankaya, Cebeci, Ankara 06110, Turkey. Electronic address: sevgidursun06@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sevgi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aras
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ankara University School of Medicine, Uğur Mumcu Street, 69/9 Gazi Osman Paşa Çankaya, Cebeci, Ankara 06110, Turkey. Electronic address: mvarli2003@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varlı
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ankara University School of Medicine, Uğur Mumcu Street, 69/9 Gazi Osman Paşa Çankaya, Cebeci, Ankara 06110, Turkey. Electronic address: teslimeatli@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Teslime
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Atli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Anemia; Elderly; Folic acid; Iron; Vitamin B(12)