Final answer:
Anemia of chronic disease is characterized by decreased iron absorption, typically associated with chronic illnesses that affect the body's ability to utilize iron, resulting in reduced hemoglobin levels and red blood cell count.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anemia of chronic disease is characterized by decreased iron absorption. This condition often accompanies chronic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney diseases, and certain forms of cancer, which can impair the body's ability to absorb and utilize iron properly. This leads to a diminished available iron for the production of hemoglobin, an essential component of red blood cells (RBCs). Iron deficiency can result in lower hemoglobin levels and contribute to a reduced RBC count. Furthermore, diseases that affect the bone marrow can also decrease RBC production. It's essential to differentiate this type of anemia from others, such as iron deficiency anemia, which is characterized by a deficiency in dietary iron or from vitamin deficiency anemia, which involves insufficient vitamin B12 and folate.