Prevalence and characteristics of anaemia in diabetes

Abstract

AbstractThere are an increasing number of patients with diabetes who have been found to be anaemic without underlying evidence of chronic renal disease. The cause of this anaemia is mainly unknown. This study set out to determine the prevalence and characteristics of anaemia in our local diabetes population.Five hundred and thirty‐one patients attending the diabetes outpatient department were consecutively screened for anaemia with a full blood count after written informed consent was taken. Anaemia was defined by World Health Organization criteria (<13g/dl for men, and <12g/dl for women). The urinary albumin–creatinine ratio, serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate were determined.Of the 531 screened, anaemia was present in 134 (25%) patients. Only 26 (19%) of those with anaemia had previously known nephropathy and 16 (12%) had microcytic anaemia. The majority of the anaemic population were previously undetected with no obvious cause for the anaemia.Anaemia was common in the study population. Screening routinely for anaemia at annual diabetes follow‐up clinics may be a cheap and effective way of identifying patients at risk of impaired quality of life and increased cardiovascular risk. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons.