Anemia identified by WHO

Anemia was identified by using criteria established by the World Health Organization (WHO): hemoglobin concentration below 13 g/dl (grams per deciliter) for men, and below 12 g/dl for women. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells, and anemia is defined as having a low number of red blood cells. These cells are crucial for carrying oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body.
Overall, anemia was associated with greater decline in physical performance, compared to subjects who were not anemic
Decline in physical performance was noted even among anemic subjects who were completely free of diseases associated with anemia (such as kidney failure and cancer)
Subjects with borderline anemia (one g/dl above the WHO criteria) also had greater physical decline compared to subjects with normal hemoglobin levels This study confirms a potential crisis that many doctors simply don't recognize: Anemia in older patients is an independent risk factor for physical decline.