Anemia and malnutrition in geriatric hospitalized patients: a cross-sectional retrospective study
Abstract Background Nutritional factors contributing to anemia in older adults are in need of clarification. We investigated associations between nutritional biomarkers and the incidence of anemia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in two centers. Data were collected from patients living...
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06287-9 |
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| author | Elisabeth Lucia Zeilinger Bärbel Sturtzel Alexa Leonie Meyer Jakob Pietschnig Caterina Sturtzel Julia Lehner Chiara Popinger Gerald Ohrenberger Ibrahim Elmadfa Matthias Unseld |
| author_facet | Elisabeth Lucia Zeilinger Bärbel Sturtzel Alexa Leonie Meyer Jakob Pietschnig Caterina Sturtzel Julia Lehner Chiara Popinger Gerald Ohrenberger Ibrahim Elmadfa Matthias Unseld |
| author_sort | Elisabeth Lucia Zeilinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Nutritional factors contributing to anemia in older adults are in need of clarification. We investigated associations between nutritional biomarkers and the incidence of anemia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in two centers. Data were collected from patients living in long-term care hospitals. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) was applied to determine nutritional risk. Blood parameters were obtained from medical records. Anemics vs. non-anemics were assigned according to hemoglobin levels following the WHO guidelines. Multiple linear regression analysis were performed for statistical analysis. Results The sample consisted of N = 97 geriatric patients (mean age 84.9 years, 86% female). Anemic patients had a significantly lower GNRI (M = 90.6 ± 5.94; p =.007) than non-anemic patients (M = 94.7 ± 6.11). Serum albumin (p =.008), blood iron (p <.001), number of erythrocytes (p <.001), and the hematocrit value (p <.001) were also significantly lower in patients with anemia. Multiple linear regression showed that serum albumin concentration, in addition to the hematocrit, was the driving factor for hemoglobin concentration in anemic patients (p =.004; R²=0.77). Conclusion The present study indicates that nutritional risk plays a substantial role in anemia development in older adults. These findings may be attributable to multifactorial metabolic pathways of macro- and micronutrients on blood hemoglobin concentration. Malnourished geriatric patients with anemia may benefit from a diet rich in protein and iron-rich foods. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a518b10cdd8d408e81dd5c779624bb28 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-a518b10cdd8d408e81dd5c779624bb282025-08-24T11:49:27ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182025-08-012511910.1186/s12877-025-06287-9Anemia and malnutrition in geriatric hospitalized patients: a cross-sectional retrospective studyElisabeth Lucia Zeilinger0Bärbel Sturtzel1Alexa Leonie Meyer2Jakob Pietschnig3Caterina Sturtzel4Julia Lehner5Chiara Popinger6Gerald Ohrenberger7Ibrahim Elmadfa8Matthias Unseld9Department of Clinical Research SBG, Academy for Ageing Research, Haus der BarmherzigkeitDepartment of Clinical Research SBG, Academy for Ageing Research, Haus der BarmherzigkeitDepartment of Clinical Research SBG, Academy for Ageing Research, Haus der BarmherzigkeitDepartment of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of ViennaInnovative Cancer Models, St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research InstituteDepartment of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of ViennaDepartment of Clinical Research SBG, Academy for Ageing Research, Haus der BarmherzigkeitDepartment of Clinical Research SBG, Academy for Ageing Research, Haus der BarmherzigkeitDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of ViennaDepartment of Clinical Research SBG, Academy for Ageing Research, Haus der BarmherzigkeitAbstract Background Nutritional factors contributing to anemia in older adults are in need of clarification. We investigated associations between nutritional biomarkers and the incidence of anemia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in two centers. Data were collected from patients living in long-term care hospitals. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) was applied to determine nutritional risk. Blood parameters were obtained from medical records. Anemics vs. non-anemics were assigned according to hemoglobin levels following the WHO guidelines. Multiple linear regression analysis were performed for statistical analysis. Results The sample consisted of N = 97 geriatric patients (mean age 84.9 years, 86% female). Anemic patients had a significantly lower GNRI (M = 90.6 ± 5.94; p =.007) than non-anemic patients (M = 94.7 ± 6.11). Serum albumin (p =.008), blood iron (p <.001), number of erythrocytes (p <.001), and the hematocrit value (p <.001) were also significantly lower in patients with anemia. Multiple linear regression showed that serum albumin concentration, in addition to the hematocrit, was the driving factor for hemoglobin concentration in anemic patients (p =.004; R²=0.77). Conclusion The present study indicates that nutritional risk plays a substantial role in anemia development in older adults. These findings may be attributable to multifactorial metabolic pathways of macro- and micronutrients on blood hemoglobin concentration. Malnourished geriatric patients with anemia may benefit from a diet rich in protein and iron-rich foods.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06287-9AnemiaGeriatricsMalnutritionNutrientsInflammation |
| spellingShingle | Elisabeth Lucia Zeilinger Bärbel Sturtzel Alexa Leonie Meyer Jakob Pietschnig Caterina Sturtzel Julia Lehner Chiara Popinger Gerald Ohrenberger Ibrahim Elmadfa Matthias Unseld Anemia and malnutrition in geriatric hospitalized patients: a cross-sectional retrospective study BMC Geriatrics Anemia Geriatrics Malnutrition Nutrients Inflammation |
| title | Anemia and malnutrition in geriatric hospitalized patients: a cross-sectional retrospective study |
| title_full | Anemia and malnutrition in geriatric hospitalized patients: a cross-sectional retrospective study |
| title_fullStr | Anemia and malnutrition in geriatric hospitalized patients: a cross-sectional retrospective study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anemia and malnutrition in geriatric hospitalized patients: a cross-sectional retrospective study |
| title_short | Anemia and malnutrition in geriatric hospitalized patients: a cross-sectional retrospective study |
| title_sort | anemia and malnutrition in geriatric hospitalized patients a cross sectional retrospective study |
| topic | Anemia Geriatrics Malnutrition Nutrients Inflammation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06287-9 |
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