1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Madonna University, Nigeria
2Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Federal Medical Centre, Nigeria
3Department of Biological Sciences, Niger Delta University, Nigeria
4Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Abia State University Uturu, Nigeria
*Corresponding author: Sylvester C Izah, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Submission: May 21, 2018; Published: June 13, 2018
ISSN: 2578-0239Volume1 Issue3
The effects of ageing on some haemostatic indicators were investigated among a population attending a tertiary health institution in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, Nigeria. Blood samples were collected from 64 participants comprising 31 males and 33 females aged between 61-73 years attending the general out -patient clinic of the Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, Nigeria. Furthermore, 20 young people between 18-30 years were used as controls. The haemostatic indicators viz: pro-thrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and platelets counts were evaluated following standard methods. The mean results for elderly and control subjects were 15.07 seconds and 11.89 seconds, respectively for females and 15.54 seconds and 11.76 seconds, respectively for males (pro-thrombin time); 33.61 seconds and 29.05 seconds, respectively for females and 34.51 seconds and 28.50 seconds respectively, for males (activated partial thromboplastin time); 187.00x109/L and 274.81x109/L respectively, for females and186.94x109/L and 271.94x109/L respectively, for males (platelets count).
Statistically, there were significant variations (P<0.001) between the elderly and control subjects. The pro-thrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time showed a significant increase while blood platelets showed significant decline with ageing. This suggests possible by functioning of the haemostatic system. Therefore there is the need to monitor haemostatic system in elderly for effective management and possibly prevention of coagulation and thrombotic disorders.
Keywords: Blood disorder; Elderly; Coagulation; Haemostatic system; Thrombosis