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Anemia in the aged is not ageing related: position paper on anemia in the aged by the “working group anemia” of the German Geriatric Society (DGG)

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Abstract

Anemia in the aged is a frequent but still under-estimated problem in geriatric patients. However, in recent years increasing research on anemia in the aged has improved awareness and interest in this clinically relevant problem. Guidelines for diagnostic and therapeutic steps are now required to improve the treatment of anemic aged patients. For encouraging the development of diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations, the “working group anemia” of the German Geriatric Society (DGG) has issued a position paper on anemia in the aged, based on the current literature. The statements are (1) that anemia has to be considered a highly prevalent but not a physiologic finding in aged persons; (2) that reference values for hemoglobin concentration are independent of age, indicating that WHO reference values for anemia definition are valid for aged persons; (3) that anemia in the aged is associated with functional and cognitive impairment based on comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), requiring diagnosis and treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geriatric Diagnostic Center, MVZ Medicum Köln Ost, Johann Classen Strasse 68, 51103, Cologne, Germany

    Gabriele Röhrig

  2. Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    Ines Gütgemann

  3. Medizinische Klinik FB Geriatrie, Bonifatius Hospital Lingen (Ems), Lingen, Germany

    Gerald Kolb

  4. Klinik für Geriatrie, Alexianer Krefeld GmbH und Klinik für Geriatrische Rehabilitation, Alexianer Tönisvorst GmbH, Tönisvorst, Germany

    Andreas Leischker

Authors
  1. Gabriele Röhrig
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  2. Ines Gütgemann
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  3. Gerald Kolb
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  4. Andreas Leischker
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Correspondence to Gabriele Röhrig.

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Röhrig, G., Gütgemann, I., Kolb, G. et al. Anemia in the aged is not ageing related: position paper on anemia in the aged by the “working group anemia” of the German Geriatric Society (DGG). Eur Geriatr Med 9, 395–397 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-018-0048-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-018-0048-0

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