Prevalence of Anemia among type2 diabetic patients in Tarhuna. Libya

Abstract

Anemia is a widespread health problem globally, particularly in resource-limited communities. It may occur as an independent condition or in association with chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anemia among patients with type 2 diabetes who do not suffer from renal impairment and to investigate the factors that may contribute to its occurrence. The study included 100 participants, comprising 50 patients with type 2 diabetes (25 males and 25 females) attending Al-Safaa Clinic in Tarhuna between April 1 and July 31, 2023, and 50 healthy individuals from the local community matched for age and sex. Data were collected through a questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, duration of diabetes, type of treatment, and complications, in addition to laboratory tests including glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and complete blood count (CBC) for patients, and fasting blood sugar with CBC for the healthy group. Hemoglobin concentration was used as a diagnostic criterion for anemia (<13 g/100 ml in males and <12 g/100 ml in females), along with measurement of red blood cell indices to classify the type of anemia. The results showed that the prevalence of anemia was 26% among diabetic patients compared to 38% in healthy controls, with no statistically significant difference between the groups. Anemia was more prevalent in females than in males in both groups, with rates of 40% versus 12% in the diabetic group and 56% versus 20% in the control group. The most common type of anemia among diabetic patients was microcytic hypochromic anemia. Furthermore, no statistically significant association was observed between anemia and either the duration of diabetes or its complications. The study concluded that anemia is common in both diabetic patients and healthy individuals, with type 2 diabetes and its complications not contributing to an increased prevalence. Gender, however, plays an important role, as females were found to be more susceptible to anemia than males.