Causes

• peptic ulcer disease or erosions
• colorectal neoplasia
• gastric surgery
• hiatus hernia (> 10 cm)
• upper GI malignancy
• angiodysplasia
• oesophageal varices

Note:

Peptic ulcer disease and colorectal neoplasia are common causes of iron-deficiency anaemia in the elderly

Causes of iron-deficiency anaemia	% (95% CI)
upper GI disease c	60% (50% to 70%)
lower GI disease	30% (21% to 40%)
ulcerative upper GI lesions	36% (27% to 45%)
colorectal neoplasia	20% (12% to 28%)
gastric surgery	10% (4.1% to 16%)
hiatus hernia (> 10 cm)	7.0% (2.0% to 12%)
upper GI malignancy	6.0% (1.3% to 11%)
angiodysplasia	5.0% (0.7% to 9.3%)
oesophageal varices	3.0% (0.0% to 6.3%)
miscellaneous	2.0% (0.0% to 4.7%)
no cause found	14% (7.2% to 21%)