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The prevalence of anemia (hemoglobin <13 g/dL in men and <12 g/dL in women) is increasing as the population ages and is currently estimated at 17% in those over 65. The diagnostic categories and treatment of anemia in the elderly are discussed in a recent review and summarized as follows:
An etiologic classification includes bleeding, nutritional deficiencies, kidney and inflammatory disorders, and clonal anemias.
Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP; NEJM JW Oncol Hematol Sep 2017 and N Engl J Med 2017; 377:111) can evolve into clonal cytopenia of unknown significance, and eventually into myelodysplasia.
The initial evaluation should exclude gastrointestinal bleeding and nutritional deficiencies (iron, copper, vitamin B12, fo…