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Clinical semiology of anemia in patients over 75 years: a prospective study conducted in France by the SiFMI group
Zulfiqar AA , Lorenzo Villalba N , Ben Malek H , Vogel T , Andres E , Groupe SiFMI , SNFMI.
Rev Med Liege 2019, 74(12),667-671Abstract : Introduction : Anemia remains one of the main concerns of the day-today life of Internist since it ranks third among the pathologies seen in Internal Medicine Departments. Objective : it seemed appropriate for the SiFMI Group (Common Situations in Internal Medicine of the SNFMI) to carry out a study of anemia evaluating the contribution to the diagnosis of the «classical» semiology of the anemic syndrome. This work reports the results from the study of 204 patients aged 75 years and more. Method : A prospective, non interventional multicenter study was carried out in Internal and Geriatric Departments in the period September 2015-September 2017. Clinical and biological variables were collected. Results : 204 patients from 10 Internal or Geriatric Departments were included in the period September 2015-September 2017. They were assigned into two groups with and without anemia. According to this study, it seems that the following parameters : asthenia, dyspnea (NYHA stages III and IV), palpitations, chest pain, tachycardia, hypotension as well as confusion, falls, depression and MMSE showed no significant statistical difference between both groups in contrast to pallor, edema, albumin and ECG. Conclusion : Clinical diagnosis of anemia in elderly individuals remains a challenge. It is difficult to establish a diagnostic protocol in this population.
