Should the cause of anemia systematically investigated independently of hemoglobin concentration?
In clinical practice the will to find out the cause of normocytic anemia (NA) in elderly patients is preferentially based on individual physician’s background rather than on objective data such as their hemoglobin level. However, it could be postulate that this clinical performance depends on this “cut off” of hemoglobin (more this value is decreased more it could be easy to find the cause of anemia). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the number of cases with defined cause of NA (after a standardized procedure) and the level of hemoglobin. METHODS: In this prospective study 211 inpatients aged 70 years or more with NA disclosed on admission or during hospitalization have been selected. In 162 of them finally included, a standardized procedure with complementary explorations was performed. RESULTS: In 134 patients, the cause of NA was established amongst inflammatory diseases and chronic renal failure was the most frequently identified. In 20%, anemia was
