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Abstract
This secondary data analysis examined the prevalence and proportion of several classifications of anemia in Georgia centenarians and octogenarians: anemia of chronic disease, nutritional anemia, combination (nutritional and chronic disease), and unexplained anemia. Data were collected as part of the Georgia Centenarian Study and included 69 octogenarians and 185 centenarians and near centenarians (98+ years). Centenarians had a higher prevalence of anemia of chronic disease (25.4% vs. 8.7%) and combination anemia (15.7% vs. 2.9%) than octogenarians. Being centenarian, being African American and having abnormal serum values for albumin (<3.6 g/dL), creatinine (>1.4 mg/dL), or ferritin (<12 ng/mL) were all found to be predictors of anemia. In summary, there is a high prevalence of anemia of chronic disease and combination anemia in centenarians. Disease management is important in the very old in order to reduce the burden of anemia and the resulting negative health consequences.