Prevalencia y características de la anemia en personas con diabetes mellitus de 50 años o más en un área sanitaria de Cádiz (España)

Background

Anemia is a common comorbidity in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), particularly in older adults. However, there is a lack of data on the prevalence and the characteristics of anemia in this population in Spain.

Objective

To describe the prevalence and the characteristics of anemia in patients with DM aged 50 or older (PDM50) in a healthcare district in the province of Cádiz.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted that included outpatient's laboratory tests (OLT) performed over 30 months at PDM50.

Results

The prevalence of anemia was 29.9% (95% CI: 28.7-31.1%), predominating in women (33.3% vs 26.7%; p< 0.01), in older people stratified by decades (61.7% in 9 th decade vs 12% in 5 th decade; p< 0.01), and in those with kidney disease (44.7% vs 28%; p< 0.01). Most cases were mild (68.3%), normocytic (78.7%), and hypochromic (52%). Similarly, moderate-to-severe anemia was more frequent in women (39% vs 23%), their prevalence increased with age (45% in the 9 th decade vs 24% in the 5 th decade), and with the progression of kidney damage, either measured by a decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (49% in G4 vs 25% in G1), or the presence of albuminuria (p < 0.01). No association was found between DM control, based on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and anemia in either sex (p = 0.887).

Conclusion

This study describes a high prevalence of anemia in PDM50, particularly in women, in the most advantageous people and in the presence of kidney disease, even in early stages, highlighting the clinical importance of this coexistence.