There were no statistically significant differences in adverse effects , length of hospitalisation or mortality .
Conclusion Oral iron raises haemoglobin levels in elderly people with iron deficiency anaemia by 0.35 g/dL after 4–6 weeks , but it is unclear if this results in tangible health benefits
Background Oral iron supplementation is used widely in older people despite observational studies suggesting it is ineffective .
Objective The aim of this systematic review was to determine if oral iron therapy is effective in elderly people with iron deficiency anaemia .
Iron supplementation for anemia after hip fracture surgery: a randomized trial of 300 patients.
BACKGROUND Anemia as a consequence of surgery is often treated with iron therapy . The evidence base for this practice is limited . To determine if oral iron therapy is beneficial for the treatment of anemia after surgery for the treatment of a hip fracture , we undertook a prospect i ve , r and omized controlled trial . METHODS Three hundred patients with a hemoglobin level of < 110 g/L after treatment for a hip fracture were r and omized to receive either a twenty-eight-day course of ferrous sulfate therapy or no iron therapy .  Hemoglobin levels were measured at six weeks after surgery . The length of the hospital stay and the mortality rate at one year were compared between groups . RESULTS The mean rise in hemoglobin levels six weeks after discharge from the hospital was 21 g/L in the iron group , compared with 18 g/L in the no-iron group ( p = 0.07 ) . There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the length of hospital stay or the mortality rate . Seventeen percent of the patients who were allocated to iron therapy reported adverse effects of the medication . CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrated that iron therapy had no clinical ly relevant benefit when used to treat anemia associated with a hip fracture
There were no statistically significant differences in adverse effects , length of hospitalisation or mortality .
Conclusion Oral iron raises haemoglobin levels in elderly people with iron deficiency anaemia by 0.35 g/dL after 4–6 weeks , but it is unclear if this results in tangible health benefits
Background Oral iron supplementation is used widely in older people despite observational studies suggesting it is ineffective .
Objective The aim of this systematic review was to determine if oral iron therapy is effective in elderly people with iron deficiency anaemia .