A retrospective study of morphological pattern of anaemia in adults

Abstract

Introduction: Anemia is a global public health problem affecting both developing and developed countries with major consequences for human health as well as social and economic development. Anemia is one of the common findings in patients irrespective of the presenting complaints and disease. Globally, anemia affects 1.62 billion people, which corresponds to 24.8% of the population. India is one of the countries with very high prevalence rates. NFHS-3 (National Family Health Survey) reveals the prevalence of anemia to be 70-80% in children, 70% in pregnant women and 24% in adult men[2]. Materials and Methods: A hospital based retrospective study was carried out at Department of Pathology, Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences, Bidar from 1st January 2019 to December 2020. 100 patients were evaluated for morphological pattern of anaemia based on red cell indices, peripheral smear, and leukocyte and platelet parameters. Anaemia was defined according to WHO criteria as haemoglobin concentration lower than 13 g/dL in men and 12 g/dL in women. Elderly was defined as a person 60 years and above according to WHO criteria. Results: The results of CBC and PBP showed that 29 (29%), 55 (55%), and 16 (16%) of the patients had normocytic normochromic, microcytic hypochromic and macrocytic pattern of anaemia respectively . The gender wise classification of the patterns revealed that 18 male patients and 14 female patients had normocytic normochromic patterns, while 52 female patients and 13 male patients had microcytic hypochromic patterns whereas 9 males patients and 7 cases of female patients showed macrocytic pattern [Table 2]. Conclusion: The microcytic hypochromic pattern of anaemia is highly frequent among this sample of patients while the macrocytic pattern of anaemia is the lowest. According to gender groups, microcytic hypochromic pattern of anaemia is more common among females; malnutrition, increase of blood loss due to pregnancy or menstruation, and lack of iron absorption are the main causes, while the normocytic normochromic anaemia is highly prevalent among males, which is mainly due to blood loss or chronic diseases.