Prevalencia e importancia pronóstica de la anemia en pacientes pluripatológicos

Resumo

INTRODUCTION: The presence of anemia is a common finding among patients admitted to Internal Medicine Departments, but, although several studies have shown the influence of anemia on quality of life, mortality and morbidity in elderly patients, its relevance remains unclear in subjects who meet the criteria for patient with multiple comorbidities (MCP). Our objective was to analyze the prevalence and prognostic importance of anemia in a cohort of patients with multiple comorbidities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: a prospective study was conducted by consecutively selecting a cohort of patients who met criteria for MCP during a year and had anemia on admission. Analytical, sociodemographic, clinical and functional variables were collected at admission and one year later vital status, number of admissions and functional status were also assessed. The association of abovementioned variables with the presence of anemia and overall one-year mortality was analyzed by univariable and multivariable analysis. RESULTS: two hundred and thirty four patients were included, with a mean age (standard deviation) of 80.32 (9.2) years. Of them, 104 (44.5%) were females and 130 (55.5%) males and 60.59% had anemia. Leading causes of anemia were iron deficiency anemia (47.55%) and chronic illness anemia (29.37%). Overall one-year mortality rate was 55.94% among patients with anemia and 35.22% among patients without anemia (p = 0.003). After multivariable logistic regression analysis, variables independently and significantly associated with mortality were anemia, > 3 points on Charlson´s index and chronic respiratory failure. CONCLUSION: the prognostic impact of anemia reinforces the importance of a comprehensive evaluation of patients with multiple comorbidities.