An 85-year-old woman has a hemoglobin of 10.5 g/dL. This is:

a. High for a woman of this age
b. Normal for this age regardless of sex (i.e., for both male and female patients)
c. A sign of an underlying disease and requires further evaluation
d. Most likely a myelophthisic anemia


ANS: C
The majority of geriatric individuals maintain a normal hemoglobin for their sex so that this hemoglobin of 10.5 g/dL in an 85-year-old woman is low and a sign of an underlying disease. This requires further work-up. Most anemias in older adults are iron deficiency or the anemia of chronic inflammation (disease). Myelophthisic anemia, in which the bone marrow is invaded by something foreign, such as metastatic malignant cells, certainly occurs but is not the most common cause of anemia in older adults.

Health Professions

You might also like to view...

Reclining-back wheelchairs require additional wheel locks because as the back is reclined, the:

a. side-to-side dimension of the wheelbase decreases. b. anterior/posterior dimension of the wheelbase increases. c. center of mass shifts in an anterior direction. d. center of mass shifts in a lateral direction.

Health Professions

It is acceptable to use a closed gloving technique during a surgical procedure

Indicate whether the statement is true or false.

Health Professions

Using a pharmaceutical agent for something other than its intended use is called:

A) overdose. B) addiction. C) habituation. D) substance abuse.

Health Professions

Where are most CHAMPVA claims submitted?

A. with the primary care provider B. the centralized CHAMPVA claims processing center C. the regional CHAMPVA claims processing center D. with the participating provider

Health Professions