الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Aging is defined as the progressive changes in functional properties, starting with biochemical changes at the molecular level, which eventually expand to include the level of cellular, tissue, and organ system. Functional capacity deficits result in physiological reserve loss – a decreased ability to respond adequately to internal or external stimuli. The gradual and cumulative changes in the body’s cells, tissues and organs result in reduced homeostatic control and increased morbidity and deaths.
Anemia is a common concern among the elderly patients. The prevalence of anemia increases with age. Anemia should not be considered as an inevitable consequence of aging. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines anemia in the elderly population, as hemoglobin (Hb) concentration less than 13 g/dL for men and less than 12 g/dL for women.
Anemia in the elderly is divided into several broad groups including: anemia of chronic inflammation which is the most common cause, nutritional deficiency anemia mostly iron deficiency anemia, and unexplained anemia. This classification does not encompass other causes such as myelodysplastic syndrome, leukemia and heamolytic anemia. A significant proportion of elderly anemic patients are presumed to have multiple causes of their anemia.
Older individuals with anemia have a broad range of outcomes including decline in physical function, decrease in mobility, reduced bone density, decreased muscle strength, increased risk of falls and fractures, cognitive dysfunction, depression, worsen underlying diseases, hospitalization and increased risk of mortality. Therefore, anemia has negative effect on QoL in the elderly.