Anemia Is Associated with Disability and Decreased Physical Performance and Muscle Strength in the Elderly

摘要: Objectives: To examine the association between anemia and disability, physical performance, muscle strength in older persons. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Community-dwelling persons Chianti area Italy. Participants: A total of 1,156 aged 65 participating InChianti Study (“Invecchiare Chianti,” i.e., Aging Area). Measurements: Anemia was defined according to World Health Organization criteria as a hemoglobin concentration below 12 g/dL women 13 g/dL men. Disability six basic eight instrumental activities daily living assessed. Physical performance assessed using short battery (4-m walk, balance, chair stands), which yields summary score ranging from 0 12 (high). Muscle determined knee extensor handgrip assessments. Results: Overall, 11.1% men 11.5% had anemia. After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, Mini-Mental State Examination score, creatinine level, presence various comorbid conditions, anemic more disabilities (1.71 vs 1.04, P=.002) poorer (8.8 9.6, P=.003) than without Anemic also significantly lower (14.1 vs 15.2 kg, P=.02) (25.3 vs 27.1 kg, P=.04) Further inflammatory markers (interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α) did not change these associations. Conclusion: is associated with strength. research should explore whether treating has beneficial effect on functional status persons.