Care and Mobility considerations

Symptoms of anaemia in most individuals are mild, and do not result in any significant disability, with functional impairment being minimal in the majority of cases. Specifically, affected individuals would normally be able to carry out all activities of daily living, and there would normally be no significant restriction of self care activities.

A minority of cases will have disability. Severe anaemia, particularly in the elderly, may result in symptoms of cardiac failure, when exertional breathlessness may be more severe, resulting in some impairment of various activities of daily living.

Anaemia as a secondary complication of other disease processes, e.g., Rheumatoid Arthritis, will also not cause any significant impairment of function in the majority of people, and disability will be as a consequential effect of the primary condition.

Sickle cell anaemia

In the early years of a disease such as sickle cell anaemia, during and immediately after the acute sickle cell crisis, the person is very ill, unable to walk, and requires a high level of care. However, the individual crisis will remit within a week or so. Between crises, the person will be expected to function normally, so it is important to gauge the severity, frequency and duration of crises.

As the disease progresses, while the acute crises may continue on a regular basis, the toll on health becomes evident, affecting both mobility and care needs. This may be due to a complication such as avascular necrosis of the hips, which may seriously affect the ability to walk, and chronic pain, fever, and general debility would generate increased care needs.

Sickle cell disease is regarded as being generally progressive, but the condition may remain static over several years.

Each case will need to be assessed on its merits. Further information may be needed from sources such as the GP, Hospital Consultant, Nurse Specialist or Healt Care Professional Reports

Anaemias of uncertain origin

Anaemia, which is mild or moderate in degree may develop secondary to various well recognised conditions, e.g., severe chronic infections, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic renal failure, liver cirrhosis, and malignant disease. The anaemia in these conditions does not usually cause any significant symptoms, and disability in these circumstances is as the result of the associated medical condition.