Prevalence of megaloblastic anaemia and its causative factors in a tertiary care centre at Western India

Abstract

Background: Anaemia affected population includes male, females as well as children and is a common problem that has been seen in western India. Megaloblastic Anaemia is common in India but regarding its prevalence and causative factors data is insufficient. The most common cause of megaloblastic anaemia includes deficiency of folic acid and Vitamin B12. Due to vegetarian lifestyle of the people the deficiency of Vitamin B12 is more common rather than the other macronutrient. In today's time, only iron and folic acid is provided by Anaemia control or prophylaxis program. This issue needs focus and hence this study has been chosen.Objective: To focus on the incidences of Megaloblastic Anaemia in Western India and analyse the possible causative factors.Materials and Methods: Patients with a haemoglobin <10 g/dl and peripheral smear findings consistent with megaloblastic anaemia present in the hospital over a period of 2 months will be included in the study. Patient's diet, drug intake, present symptoms and other history will be taken into account. Recording of complete blood counts, peripheral film examination, reticulocyte count and cobalamin and folate assays will be done. Patients suffering from chronic disease like renal disease, cancer, tuberculosis, liver disease etc., Will be excluded from the study. All data will be collected and statistically evaluated.Results: In the current study, 500 patients who were admitted to the gynaecology, paediatric, and medical wards were all assessed. These patients were all eligible to participate. They were divided into three groups based on the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) value, serum assay, and peripheral smear results: Macrocytic, normocytic, and microcytic anaemia. A megaloblastic blood film or low serum indicators along with the normal MCV value were categorised as having macrocytic anaemia. A total of 100 patients had macrocytic anaemia identified. The distribution of sexes was: 70 (male), 30 (female). There were discovered to be 55% of patients with cobalamin deficit and 8% of patients with folate deficiency. Every patient were vegetarians, coming from a poor socioeconomic status.Conclusion: The diagnosis of Megaloblastic anaemia was done through complete blood counts, red cells and assays of two vitamins. Majority of patients having megaloblastic anaemia was due to deficiency of cobalamin. Poor diet in cobalamin or folate were the contributing factors in Megaloblastic anaemia. Prevention can be done through awareness camps and education programmes and also through proper diet. Vitamin B12 should be included in the diet of patients along with iron and folic acid.