Anemia and associated factors among diabetic patients Attending jimma university specialized hospital, Southwest ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Anemia is a global public health problem and common in diabetic patients. It is potentially contributing to pathogenesis and progression of many diabetes complications mainly cardiovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. Anemia in diabetic patients is unrecognized and untreated particularly in Ethiopia. Objective: This study was aimed to determine prevalence of anemia and associated factors in diabetic patients attending chronic care center in Jimma University specialized hospital, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: An institution -based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 20 to May 30, 2014. A total of two hundred and sixty (260) diabetic patients were involved in the study. Four (4) ml of venous blood was collected from each diabetic patient for hematology and chemistry analysis. Blood film was prepared and examined for peripheral blood morphology and hemoparasites particularly; malarial. Stool sample was also screened for presence of intestinal parasite. Data were analyzed with statistical package software for social scientist (SPSS, version 20, IBM Inc Chicago).Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were carried out to compute the different rate, proportion and relevant association. Variables with P-value <0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: Overall, the prevalence of anemia in the study was 23.1%. Among anemic diabetic patients mild and moderate anemia accounted for 96.7% and 3.3%, respectively. Majority (86.7%) of the anemic diabetic patients had normocytic-normochromic anemia. Having complication (AOR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.09, 4.23), being illiterate (AOR=4.19, 95% CI =1.61, 10.88) and uncontrolled hyperglycemia (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.05, 4.18) were identified as associated factors of anemia. Conclusion: This study showed that anemia is moderate public health problem in diabetic patients in the study area. Therefore screening for anemia should be part of their routine management.