Association of body iron stores and anemia in a Ghanaian type-2 diabetes mellitus population: A multicentered cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Anemia has been a common comorbidity in most chronic diseases, but has not been well monitored in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of anemia and its nexus with iron stores among T2DM patients in health facilities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

METHODS

This multicenter cross-sectional study recruited 213 T2DM out-patients attending the diabetic clinics at the Kumasi South Hospital and St. Michaels Hospital, Jachie Pramso, Ghana, for routine check-ups. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical data from study participants. Blood samples were collected to estimate hematological parameters and iron stores. Mann-Whitney test was used to assess the difference in hematological parameters and iron stores between anemic and nonanemic patients. All  < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Of the 213 T2DM participants, the prevalence of anemia was 31.9%. More females 145 (68.1%) were registered than males 68 (31.9%). Anemic patients had significantly lower levels of mean cell volume [79.30/fL vs. 82.60/fL,  = 0.001], mean cell hemoglobin [26.60/pg vs. 27.90/pg,  < 0.0001], and mean cell hemoglobin concentration [33.10/g/dL) vs. 33.80/g/dL,  < 0.0001] than those without anemia. Serum levels of ferritin ( = 0.1140), transferrin ( = 0.5070), iron ( = 0.7950), and total iron binding capacity ( = 0.4610) did not differ significantly between T2DM patients with or without anemia.

CONCLUSION

Despite the high prevalence of anemia among the T2DM patients in our cohort, patients present with apparently normal iron stores. This unrecognized mild anemia must be frequently monitored among T2DM patients.