Clinical outcomes of coagulation disorders in elderly Africans: a review of risk, diagnosis, and management

Coagulation disorders in the elderly represent a significant source of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with elderly Africans facing unique challenges due to genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors. Aging-associated changes in hemostasis, combined with prevalent comorbidities such as infections, cardiovascular disease, and malignancies, increase the susceptibility of this population to thrombotic and bleeding complications. Understanding these risk factors is critical to improving clinical outcomes. Diagnosis of coagulation disorders in elderly Africans is complicated by limited access to specialized laboratory tests, variability in clinical presentations, and overlapping geriatric syndromes. Conventional coagulation assays are often unavailable or unaffordable in many African healthcare settings, leading to delays or inaccuracies in diagnosis. These diagnostic challenges necessitate reliance on clinical acumen and highlight the need for affordable, accessible diagnostic tools adapted to regional contexts.