10.22376/ijpbs.2019.10.1.p1-12 Volume 5 Issue 4 2014 (October - December) Background: Population based surveys have renewed the debate and have referred to the high prevalence of anemia among elderly people as a "public health crisis". Anemia of any degree is recognized as a significant independent contributor to morbidity, mortality, and frailty in elderly patients. Efforts to understand anemia in elderly has become a major target of research interest About one third of them have anemia secondary to nutritional defieciency, one third due to chronic inflammation or chronic renal disease, and one third have unexplained anemia. Aim: To study the morphlogical types and etiologies of anemias in elderly Material and methods: 100 patients (either sex, greaterThan 60yrs) were selected, clinical data and various laboratory investigations, complete hemogram, reticulocyte count, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and serum ferritin were done for all and special investigations like bone marrow study, endoscopy, ultrasound examinations etc were done wherever required. Based on history, clinical evaluation and the laboratory investigations, the anemias were morphologically and aetiologically classified. Results: Majority of the patients had hemoglobin levels in the range of 9.8 to 11.4gm%. Anemia was morphologically typed based on the peripheral smear findings and complete blood counts, into normocytic(42%), microcytic(28%), macrocytic(19%), and pancytopenia(11%). Majority of the cases, had anemia of chronic diseases(36%) followed by anemia of unknown etiology(24%). 17% included both hematological and non-hematological malignant cases. Conclusion: Until further data are available, anemia in the elderly should be evaluated and remediable causes treated, but the anemia itself should not be treated unless the patient is severely symptomatic or in danger of needing a transfusion. DR.C.A.ARATHI, DR.N. PRABHUDEVA.N AND DR. ARUNDHATHI.S public health crisis, comorbidity, unplained anemias 1153-1160