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Anämie im Alter

Anemia in the elderly

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Zusammenfassung

Anämie ist keine physiologische Erscheinung des höheren Lebensalters, sondern Symptom einer zugrunde liegenden Erkrankung. Die Frage nach Abklärung dieser Erkrankung muss individuell entschieden werden, abhängig von Patientenwunsch, geriatrischem Assessment und Therapieoptionen. Dabei sind Lebensqualität und Lebenserwartung zu berücksichtigen. Die Prävalenz der Anämie im Alter ist hoch und betrifft unter stationär behandelten geriatrischen Patienten fast jeden zweiten. Die Ursachen sind vielfältig, wobei die häufigsten Formen im höheren Lebensalter die Eisenmangelanämie (IDA), die Anämie chronischer Erkrankungen (ACD) und die unklare Anämie (UA) sind. Daher beschränkt sich dieser Beitrag auf Diagnostik und Therapie dieser Formen. Es gibt bis heute keine Leitlinie für die Diagnostik und Therapie der Anämie im Alter. Als diagnostische Basis bietet sich die Erfassung von Blutbild, Ferritin und Transferrinsättigung an. Die therapeutischen Maßnahmen richten sich nach der Grunderkrankung.

Abstract

Anemia is not physiologically associated with increasing age but a symptom of an underlying disease. The individual patient’s wish, results of geriatric assessment, and therapeutic options regarding life expectancy and quality of life must be taken into consideration when determining the diagnostic steps to be taken. Prevalence of anemia is high, reaching up to 40% among geriatric inpatients. There are various reasons for anemia, but the three most frequent forms of anemia in the elderly are iron deficient anemia (IDA), anemia of chronic diseases (ACD), and unexplained anemia (UA). This article will, therefore, be limited to these forms. Until now no guidelines have been developed concerning diagnostic and therapeutic steps for anemia in the elderly. For basic diagnostics, the analysis of hematologic parameters such as hemoglobin, ferritin, and the saturation of transferrin are recommended. Therapeutic options have to be chosen according to the underlying disease.

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Interessenkonflikt

Die korrespondierende Autorin weist für sich und ihren Koautor auf folgende Beziehungen hin: Beide haben Vortragshonorare der Firma Vifor Pharma erhalten.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Klinik für Geriatrie am St. Marien-Hospital, Kunibertskloster 11–13, 50668, Köln, Deutschland

    G. Röhrig MPH & R.J. Schulz

  2. Lehrstuhl für Geriatrie der Universität zu Köln, Köln, Deutschland

    G. Röhrig MPH & R.J. Schulz

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  1. G. Röhrig MPH
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  2. R.J. Schulz
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Correspondence to G. Röhrig MPH.

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Röhrig, G., Schulz, R. Anämie im Alter. Z Gerontol Geriat 46, 167–176 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-012-0453-9

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