Iron Deficiency in Anemic Patients: Study in a Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

Background: Anemia is a clinical abnormality characterized by reduction in hemoglobin concentration below the normal for age and sex. It can be of different types, the most common being iron deficiency anemia which affects mostly pregnant and lactating females and growing children in the developing world.

Methods: This was a hospital based observational study conducted at National Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Pathology Department, Birgunj, Nepal. Patients above the age of 10 years of  both sexes (male and females) having anemia ( males having haemoglobin level < 13 gm/dl and  females having haemoglobin level < 12 gm/dl ) were included. After detailed history, preliminary blood tests including complete blood counts, peripheral smear and reticulocytes count were done. In patients suspected ( microcytic hypochromic blood picture and normal reticulocytes count )  to have iron deficiency anemia, serum ferritin was done to confirm the diagnosis. Patients under the age of 10 years and those patients having blood malignancies (acute or chronic leukemia) were excluded from the study.

Results: Sixty anemic  patients  were found to have iron deficiency. Females were affected  more (66%) with iron deficiency anemia than males (34%). There were two peaks (30% and 21%) in age groups 10 – 20 years and 61 – 70 years. Complete blood counts revealed a significant decrease in the value of red cell indices like mean corpuscular volume in 70% patients (Normal MCV 80 to 100 fl ) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin  in 72% patients (Normal MCH 27 to 33 pg ) .  On peripheral smear it was seen that most of the patients (72%) had microcytic hypochromic blood picture. Iron deficiency anemia was more common in rural areas.

Conclusion: Iron deficiency anemia was the most common type of anemia. It is more common in females and the prevalence is more in rural areas.