Lab & Physical Findings In Older Male

NP Certification Q&A

A 60 year old man presents with a chief complaint of a 6 month history of increasing fatigue despite adequate rest and sleep. He denies chest pain or difficulty breathing, and reports he is a non smoker. Concurrent history includes a 25 year history of alcohol used disorder, with daily intake of 5-7, occasionally more, 1.5 oz shots of whiskey, and chronic poor nutrition, reporting, “I eat chips and crackers a lot, I do not have the time to make a meal and I cannot afford to eat out. He is currently employed as a warehouse working, and states, “I get to work every day. The booze is really not problem.” On physical exam, mild pharyngeal redness without exudate, conjunctival pallor, and epigastric tenderness are present. The following lab results are noted.

Hgb = 9 g/dL (normal 14 to 16 g/dL)

Hct = 28.5% (normal 42% to 48%)

RBC = 3.4 million mm3 (normal 4.7 to 6.1 million mm3)

MCV = 108 fL (normal 81 to 96 fL)

MCHC = 33.2 g/dL (normal 31 to 37 g/dL)

RDW = 18.4% (normal 11-15%)

These findings are most likely caused by:
A. iron deficiency anemia

B. Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia

C. Folic acid deficiency anemia

D. Anemia of chronic disease.
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