Supplementation with iron and deworming for mild and moderate anaemia in the elderly in Kelantan

Abstract

Baseline survey showed that the prevalence of chronic energy deficiency, mild and moderate anaemia and helminthic infection were 36.6%, 33.2% and 57.3% respectively. An interventive (single blind) study by iron supplementation and deworming were given to the elderly with mild and moderate anaemia for 3 months. The subjects, N = 108, were divided into 4 groups. Group A was treated with iron supplementation, Group B by deworming, Group C with both iron supplementation and deworming, while Group D, as a control group was given placebo. The result showed that the effectiveness of the intervention (test minus placebo) for haemoglobin and haematocrit were: Iron supplementation (Group A), Haemoglobin 5.03 gm% (t=4.761, p= 0.0018), Haematoctrit 0.63 (t=2.830, p=0.0116). Deworming (Group B), Haemoglobin 1.40mg% (t=0.071, p=0.7900), Haematoctrit 0.41 (t=2.034, p=0.0554). Iron and Deworming (Group C), Haemoglobin 2.38gm% (t-3.606, p=0.0013), Haematoctrit 0.46 (t=3.114, p=0.0044). The result showed that iron supplementation and deworming had improved the level of haemoglobin and haematoctrit in elderly with borderline anaemia significantly.