MORPHOLOGICAL SPECTRUM OF ANEMIA IN GERIATRIC POPULATION AT JHALAWAR MEDICAL COLLEGE, JHALAWAR (RAJASTHAN)

Background: Anemia is a global health problem in geriatric population because of the high prevalence and associated with signicant morbidity and mortality. As per WHO recommendation, Hb level less than 12.0 g/dL for women and below 13.0 g/dL for men is consider as anemic. The study aims to analyse the various anemia patterns in geriatric population. Methods: A 2-year prospective study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar. The study was comprised of all geriatric patients of age group 60 years and older of either sex in OPD and IPD in hospital. Results: Out of 404 anemic patients the proportion of males was 198(49%) and females 206(51%). On examination of peripheral blood smear, the most common morphological type of anemia observed was normocytic normochromic, accounting for 55.20%. Conclusion: Diagnosing anemia and analysing its patterns are essential steps in identifying the underlying causes of the condition. This understanding is crucial for determining the most effective treatment strategies, ultimately leading to improved management and outcomes for the patient.