A cross-sectional study of lipid profile in anemic patients in a tertiary care center

Background: Various studies have reported a correlation (both positive and negative) between the status of anemia and lipid profile. Studies observed that the lipoproteins levels were significantly lower in anemic patients, and this reduction was proportional to the severity of anemia and not related to the type of anemia. Objectives: To study the lipid profile among the anemia patients and the correlation between the severity of the anemia and lipid subfractions. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study among 85 subjects with anemia in a Tertiary care hospital, who satisfied the eligibility criteria. After detailed history, clinical examination and blood investigations including blood counts, hemoglobin, and lipid profile were done. Results: The mean hemoglobin (g/dL) among the subjects was 7.86 (±2.03) g/dL ranging from 3 to 11 g/dL. Among the 85 subjects, 35 (41.18%) had dimorphic anemia followed by 21 (24.71%) had microcytic hypochromic anemia, 15 (17.65%) had normocytic hypochromic anemia, and 14 subjects (16.47%) had normocytic normochromic anemia. Body mass index was not significantly associated with the type and severity of anemia. Lipid subfractions were not associated with the type of anemia and significantly decreased with an increase in the severity of anemia. Conclusion: The lipid profile parameters in our study were not associated with type of anemia and significantly decreased with an increase in the severity of anemia.