Do people with anemia die younger?

Yes, there is substantial evidence to suggest that people with anemia, particularly older adults, have a higher risk of mortality and may die younger compared to those without anemia.

Long-term Mortality Risk

A study published in PLOS ONE found that among both young-old (65–84 years) and old-old (80+ years) individuals, those with mild anemia had a significantly higher mortality risk over 11-15 years compared to those without anemia. The hazard ratios for mortality were 1.35 for young-old and 1.28 for old-old, indicating a higher risk of death in anemic individuals1.

Five-Year Survival Rates

Another study observed that older people with anemia had lower 5-year survival rates compared to those with normal hemoglobin levels. For example, the 5-year survival rate was 48% for anemic individuals aged 70-79, compared to 67% for non-anemic individuals in the same age group. This difference was even more pronounced in older age groups2.

Hospitalization and Mortality

Research on community-dwelling older adults showed that anemia is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization and death. Anemia was linked to a higher hazard ratio for all-cause mortality, all-cause hospitalization, and cardiovascular-specific hospitalization. The study highlighted that anemia in older adults is a significant predictor of adverse outcomes, including increased mortality4.

Underlying Conditions

While anemia itself may not always be fatal, the underlying conditions that cause anemia can significantly impact life expectancy. For instance, conditions like severe aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and certain types of hemolytic anemias can have poor prognoses if not treated effectively3.

In summary, the presence of anemia in older adults is associated with increased mortality risk, reduced survival rates, and a higher likelihood of hospitalization, indicating that people with anemia may indeed die younger than those without the condition.