To Study the Prevalence and Severity of Anemia in Solid Malignancy Patients

Abstract

Background: Anemia in solid malignancy may be due to tumor-associated bleeding, hemolysis, hypersplenism, reduced production of EPO, nutritional deficiencies, bone marrow failure and toxicity associated with therapies which increases the mortality. Aim: To study the prevalence and severity of anemia in solid malignancy patients. Methods: Hospital based -cross sectional study done on patients above 18 years with solid malignancy with elevated C-reactive protein level (CRP). Sample size was 50.Complete blood count, peripheral smear and CRP were measured. Results: Among 50 patients, the overall prevalence of anemia in solid malignancy with elevated CRP was 100%. The mean hemoglobin was lower in female patients 8.2 ± 1.40 g/dl (mean±SD) compared with male patients 8.4 ± 2.01g/dl (mean±SD). 62% patients were having elevated CRP value ranges from 0.6mg/dl to 1 mg/dl with a mean hemoglobin of 8.3 ± 1.32 (mean±SD) and 38% were having CRP of more than 1mg/dl with a mean hemoglobin of 8.1 ± 1.02 (mean±SD). Among the different types of malignancy, colorectal and gynecological tract group were found to have low mean hemoglobin value of 7.8 ± 1.04 (mean±SD) and 7.9 ± 1.13 (mean±SD).Most of them were having moderate anemia (70%) and normocytic normochromic anemia (78%). Conclusion: The overall prevalence of anemia in solid malignancy patients with elevated inflammatory marker like CRP was 100%. Most of them were having moderate anemia (70%), normocytic normochromic type (78%). Keywords: Anemia, Solid malignancy, Hemoglobin.