Anemia Associated with Disability in Eldery

The cross-sectional study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (2004, vol. 52, no. 5), investigated the association between anemia and disability, physical performance, and muscle strength among older individuals. Researchers at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine analyzed data of 1,156 men and women, ages 65 and older, participating in the InCHIANTI study, in Chianti, Italy. Physical performance tests including balance, walking, chair stands, handgrip and knee extension muscle strength tests, as well as instrumental activities of daily living, were obtained from the participants.

Researchers found that the anemic participants had significantly reduced strength and physical performance compared to the nonanemic subjects. Findings also revealed that the anemic participants had a higher level of disability, with a greater need for assistance in activities of daily living. "Further research should explore whether treating anemia has a beneficial effect on the functional status of older persons," the study authors conclude.