Clinical research studyAre we giving too much iron? Low-dose iron therapy is effective in octogenarians
Section snippets
Sample
All consecutive admissions to the Acute Geriatric Ward of Kaplan-Harzfeld Medical Center between March, 2001, and February, 2004, were examined for hemoglobin and ferritin levels. Patients were enrolled in the study if they had hemoglobin levels between 80 g/dL and 119 g/dL and ferritin levels below 40 ng/mL. Patients who were unable or unwilling to sign an informed consent, or who had vitamin B12 deficiency, severe systemic illness, underlying malignancy, considerable renal failure (creatinine
Results
Of 5329 admitted patients, 548 patients over the age of 80 years were admitted with a diagnosis of anemia during the 3-year study period. Of these 548 patients, 458 were excluded from the study: 217 with ferritin levels above 40 ng/mL, 30 were unable or unwilling to sign an informed consent, 61 had iron therapy before hospitalization, 53 had vitamin B12 deficiency, and 32 had received recent blood transfusions. Another 19 patients were excluded because of severe systemic illness, 17 because of
Discussion
This study demonstrates that a low iron dose is an effective therapeutic option in elderly patients with iron-deficiency anemia. The lowest dose of elemental iron used was 15 mg, which is considerably lower than the 150 mg found in one tablet of ferrous fumarate, the 65 mg found in one 200-mg tablet of ferrous sulphate, or even the 35 mg found in one 300-mg tablet of ferrous gluconate. Even in elderly patients who have iron deficiency, iron absorption was very fast and efficient. By comparison,
Acknowledgment
The authors thank Lutzy Cojocaru, PhD, of the Ashkelon Academic College for statistical analysis of this work.
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