Abstract
The effects of age and sex on haematological laboratory parameters were studied in connection with a population study in people over the age of 65 years (n = 347). Serum vitamin B12 was the only parameter which decreased significantly with advancing age. Blood leucocyte count, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, erythrocyte count, mean erythrocyte volume, mean erythrocyte haemoglobin and serum ferritin values were significantly higher in males than in females. Serum iron, serum transferrin, and plasma and erythrocyte folate levels did not differ between males and females. Thirteen subjects were anaemic and three of them had iron deficiency anaemia. Five subjects had iron deficiency based on serum iron and transferrin but no anaemia. Serum ferritin measurement did not reveal any further subjects with iron deficiency. No case of folate deficiency anaemia was revealed. Although many of the participants were on medication, most of them were living at home and taking care of themselves and represent relatively fit elderly people. Therefore we suggest that these laboratory data can also serve as reference values for the elderly people.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.