Studies of the Effect of Old Age on Invitro Blood Clotting In Yenagoa Bayelsa State Nigeria.

Abstract

Aging has been defined as “a progressive unfavourable loss of adaption, leading to increased vulnerability, decreased viability, and decreased life expectancy. Enablers of aging could be retarded as a result of proper medical intervention of the old aged. The aim of the research is to provide interventions that could also serve a retarder to aging and in the management of the aged. A total of 300 subjects were recruited into the study, 200 subjects constituted the aged defined based on 65 and above years. 100 subjects constituted the  middle aged defined  based on age range of 20-33 years.   Samples were divided into two groups, group A constitutes the control (middle aged) and group B constitutes the aged.  Platelets, serum calcium and clotting time were analyzed using WHO approved methods.  The mean and SD of platelet count of group A 379±137 as compare to group B of 210±122. The CT for group A was 4.8±1.1 as compare to group B of 9.2±1.6. While serum calcium was  2.3±0.30 in the control as against the aged of  1.8±0.34. A statistical significances p<0.05 were observed for all the studied parameters. However, the platelets count and serum calcium had a decline in the aged as compared to the middle aged. Clotting time showed a significant increase. The decline in platelets count of the aged was attributed to decline in the thrombopoietin, senile production sites of platelets precursors and components. The prolonged CT observed for the aged was hinged on the decline in platelets count, coagulation factors and serum calcium concentration. Based on these finding, aged are advice not to expose themselves to injuries and cut. Also heath care providers should treat all injuries in the geriatrics as an emergency.

Keywords: Platelets, clotting time, geriatrics, calcium