Prevalence of Anemia and Its Associated Factors among Urban Indian Elderly Population: Findings from Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Anemia is a global public health concern with adverse effects on health and socioeconomic development. Among the elderly, it is often underdiagnosed and undertreated despite being a marker of physiological decline and morbidity. With India undergoing demographic transition, the burden among the elderly is expected to increase. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of anemia among the urban Indian elderly population.

METHODS

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2019 to June 2020 among 250 elderly individuals (≥60 years) in the urban field practice area of a medical college. Data on sociopersonal characteristics, dietary and personal habits, and comorbidities were collected using a pretested semistructured proforma. Hemoglobin was estimated using the HemoCue Hb 301 system, and anemia was classified as per WHO criteria. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, t-test, and multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

The prevalence of anemia was 38.4%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that increasing age, female sex, dependence in activities of daily living, and consumption of two or fewer meals per day were independently associated with anemia. Pallor was significantly associated with lower mean hemoglobin levels (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

More than one-third of the urban Indian elderly population had anemia. Increasing age, female sex, dependence in activities of daily living, and consumption of two or fewer meals per day were independently associated with anemia. These findings highlight the need for routine screening, nutritional assessment, and functional evaluation among the elderly population and support greater inclusion of elderly in national demographic and health surveys and future anemia prevention and control initiatives.