Affiliation:
1. Department of Medical Diagnostics, College of Health Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Kumasi Ghana
2. Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Science Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Kumasi Ghana
3. Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Centre for Research in Applied Biology University of Energy and Natural Resources Sunyani Ghana
4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Kumasi South Hospital Kumasi Ghana
5. School of Medical and Health Sciences Edith Cowan University Joondalup Perth Australia
Abstract
AbstractBackground and AimsAnemia has been a common comorbidity in most chronic diseases, but has not been well monitored in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of anemia and its nexus with iron stores among T2DM patients in health facilities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.MethodsThis multicenter cross‐sectional study recruited 213 T2DM out‐patients attending the diabetic clinics at the Kumasi South Hospital and St. Michaels Hospital, Jachie Pramso, Ghana, for routine check‐ups. Self‐reported questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical data from study participants. Blood samples were collected to estimate hematological parameters and iron stores. Mann–Whitney U test was used to assess the difference in hematological parameters and iron stores between anemic and nonanemic patients. All p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsOf the 213 T2DM participants, the prevalence of anemia was 31.9%. More females 145 (68.1%) were registered than males 68 (31.9%). Anemic patients had significantly lower levels of mean cell volume [79.30/fL vs. 82.60/fL, p = 0.001], mean cell hemoglobin [26.60/pg vs. 27.90/pg, p < 0.0001], and mean cell hemoglobin concentration [33.10/g/dL) vs. 33.80/g/dL, p < 0.0001] than those without anemia. Serum levels of ferritin (p = 0.1140), transferrin (p = 0.5070), iron (p = 0.7950), and total iron binding capacity (p = 0.4610) did not differ significantly between T2DM patients with or without anemia.ConclusionDespite the high prevalence of anemia among the T2DM patients in our cohort, patients present with apparently normal iron stores. This unrecognized mild anemia must be frequently monitored among T2DM patients.