The Elderly Predominance of Elevated Blood Components Among Patients in the Internal Medicine Departments of Tobruk Medical Centre: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of 125 Cases Derived from a Primary Institutional Study of Polycythemia Vera

Abstract

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) characterized by uncontrolled red blood cell production, driven in approximately 95–96% of cases by the acquired JAK2 V617F mutation. Although PV predominantly affects older adults, its age-related presentation within internal medicine departments warrants focused clinical attention. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the incidence and age distribution of elevated blood components among patients admitted to the male and female internal medicine departments of Tobruk Medical Centre, with emphasis on elderly predominance and associated clinical risk factors. We retrospectively reviewed patient records from the male and female internal medicine departments at Tobruk Medical Centre during 2024–2025 and identified 125 patients with elevated blood components (hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cell count, and/or platelet count). Cases were stratified by age group and analysed descriptively. These data constitute the internal medicine cohort (n = 125) of the wider institutional study of primary PV conducted at the same centre, published by Mtawil et al. (2026), which is used here as the primary source and reference study. The study revealed a marked increase in elevated blood components among elderly patients. Age distribution was: 20–30 years (5 cases, 4%), 31–40 years (9 cases, 7%), 41–50 years (10 cases, 8%), 51–60 years (15 cases, 12%), 61–70 years (17 cases, 14%), 71–80 years (20 cases, 16%), and 81–90 years (49 cases, 39%). Patients aged 61–90 years accounted for 65% of the cohort, and those aged 51 years and older accounted for 81%. A perfect positive correlation between age and case frequency was reported for this cohort in the primary study (Spearman ρ = 1.00, p < 0.001). The data confirm that elevated blood components consistent with PV and related MPNs predominantly affect elderly patients in internal medicine settings. The findings underscore the importance of routine hematological screening in older adults and of age-stratified management protocols in Tobruk City, consistent with the conclusions of the primary institutional study.