[Profile and prognosis of patients over 85 years old with anemia living in the community. Octabaix Study]

Objectives: To analyze the prevalence of anemia in a sample of patients over 85 years old. To explore possible differentiating features in the groups of people with and without anemia, and to evaluate the relationship of anemia with mortality after a follow-up of 3 years.

Material and methods: An observational multicenter study was conducted on a cohort of people born in 1924 and who lived in the community. Socio-demographic variables, comorbidity, functionality, cognitive status, social risk, perceived quality of life, nutritional status, drug consumption and laboratory parameters were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed.

Results: A total of 328 inhabitants were included, of whom 61.6% were women. The prevalence of anemia was 24%. Statistically significant differences in the Charlson index were found, showing higher values in anemic patients (P=0001) and in the Barthel index (BI) and in the Lawton index (LI), with lower levels in anemic patients (P=002 for both). Patients with anemia had a poorer perception of their quality of life (P=015). The presence of anemia was associated with more dependence according the BI values (OR 0.985; 95% CI: 0973-0997) and with higher comorbidity according the Charlson index (OR 1.314; 95% CI: 1124-1536). Mortality was higher in the group of patients with anemia, reaching statistically significant differences in the third year P=005).

Conclusions: In our cohort anemia is a fairly prevalent feature in the population over 85 years old, and is associated with higher mortality at three years of follow up. Patients with anemia had worse physical functioning and greater comorbidity.