Burden of Anemia among Hospitalized Patients: An Observational Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16628279Keywords:
anemia, hemoglobin, rbc, normocytic hypochromic, microcytic hypochromicAbstract
Anemia is a major public health issue globally, particularly common in low- and middle-income countries like India, where it contributes significantly to morbidity in hospitalized patients. It is characterized by a reduction in red blood cell count or hemoglobin level, leading to reduced oxygen delivery to tissues. Causes range from nutritional deficiencies to chronic diseases, infections, blood loss and genetic disorders. Women, children, and the elderly are especially vulnerable. The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and hematological patterns of anemia in hospitalized patients at a tertiary care center in South India and identify the most common morphological types across age and gender. Blood samples from 100 hospitalized patients were collected and analyzed using an automated hematology analyzer (sysmex) to assess hemoglobin levels, RBC indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC), and peripheral blood smear morphology. Anemia was diagnosed and classified based on WHO criteria and RBC morphology. The study revealed that microcytic hypochromic anemia was the most prevalent type (54%), followed by normocytic hypochromic (29%) and normocytic normochromic (17%). Females showed slightly higher prevalence and more signs of iron deficiency. Anemia types varied across age groups: Younger patients (10–30 years) showed healthier RBC morphology (normocytic), while older patients had more normocytic hypochromic anemia, indicating chronic disease involvement. The findings emphasize the importance of early detection, regular screening, targeted treatment nutritional intervention, and age and gender-specific management strategies to reduce anemia-related complications.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Kulsoom Zahra, Md Khaja Moinuddin, Wajihus Shams, Junaid Ul Islam, Shakir Nisar Bhatt, Zubair Ul Islam, Santosh Kumar, SD Rizwan
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