Anemia in Hospitalized Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study on Different Erythrocyte Indices and their Relationships

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of anemia varies according to age, gender and ethnicity. Moreover, its occurrence in the significant proportions of hospitalized patients is a matter of concern for the healthcare practitioners. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of anemia in hospitalized patients in relation to age, gender, and ethnicity and to assess the relationships of different erythrocyte indices with hemoglobin. Materials and Methods: In a hospital-based, cross-sectional study, the hematological test results of 485 patients were analyzed. Participants were categorized according to gender, age and ethnicities and diagnosed as anemic based on hemoglobin levels <12.0 g/dL in females and <13.0 g/dL in males. Erythrocyte indices like hemoglobin, erythrocyte count, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were compared between the anemic and normal participants apart from different subgroups. Results: The prevalence of anemia in the hospitalized patients was 65.8%. It was greater in females as compared to males. Likewise, it was the highest in the highest quartile of age and Indo-Aryan ethnic group. Hemoglobin concentration was significantly lower in the female participants than in the males (p<0.001); significantly different across different age groups (quartile of age) (p<0.001). Hemoglobin was found to be significantly and positively correlated with erythrocyte count, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (p<0.001). Hematocrit followed by erythrocyte count were the most efficient predictors of the diagnosis of anemia. Moreover, RBC count/HCT with MCV and MCH together could significantly explain the variance in hemoglobin levels, after controlling for age and gender (p<0.001). Conclusion: Anemia was found to be significantly prevalent in hospitalized patients. Moreover, the erythrocyte indices like erythrocyte count, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration were effective in characterizing anemia.