Variation of the Hemoglobin Level with Age and Sex

During the winter and spring of 1952-53 a survey of hemoglobin values was made in Halifax among 1308 male subjects 6 to 98 years of age, and 1424 female subjects 6 to 94 years of age.

Among children 6 to 14 years old the values increased from about 13 to about 14 Gm. per 100 ml. of blood, and there were essentially no differences between the sexes. The average value for both the boys and the girls was 13.5 Gm.

In girls between 14 and 20 years of age the hemoglobin values decreased slightly, reaching about 13 Gm. per 100 ml. In boys of corresponding ages there was an increase to about 15 Gm. In both sexes these values were attained at about 20 years of age, and remained characteristic of the third decade of life. They were essentially the lowest and the highest shown respectively by the female and the male subjects of any age group.

Hemoglobin values in men between 20 and 60 years of age were typically 14.5 to 15 Gm. per 100 ml., the higher values tending to occur among the younger men. After the fifth decade there were progressive and marked decreases to an average of 12.4 in men between 80 and 90 years of age.

In women from 20 years of age onward the average hemoglobin values remained near 13 Gm. per 100 ml.