Clinical profile of patients aged 15 years and above presenting with haemoglobin level of less than 7gm%

 

 

Abstract              Background: Anemia is a major health problem in India¹. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are two billion people with anaemia in the world and half of the anaemia is due to iron deficiency ¹. A study done by Dr S V Subramanian showed that anaemia was disproportionately concentrated in low socio-economic groups, and that maternal anaemia was strongly associated with child anemia⁴. Aims and Objectives: 1) To study the clinical profile of patients aged 15 years and above presenting with haemoglobin level of less than 7gm %. 2) To study the etiological profile of anemia in both sexes aged above 15 years. 3) To study the etiology of very severe anemia with haemoglobin level of less than 4 gm %. Materials and Methods: It is a prospective Observational study done in KAMINENI ACADEMY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES AND RESEARCH CENTRE. Data were collected from patients admitted in department of General Medicine. Patients of both sexs who are aged >15 yrs were included in the study. Data is collected by using history, physical examination, and laboratory parameters. Results: Out of 100 cases 41% were males and 59% were females. Predominant age group was 20-29 years, with nutritional deficiencies being most common cause. Nutritional anemia was most common cause of anemia amongst all age groups. While second most common was chronic malaria in all age groups except 15-20 years where aplastic anemia was the second most common cause. Nutritional anemia was common cause for very severe anemia (HB <4gm/dl), followed by drug induced bone marrow supression and hook worm infestation. Conclusion: nutritional anemia is most common cause of severe and very severe anemia, with chronic malaria being second most common cause. Stool examination, Peripheral smear along with staining for parasities must be performed in all cases of anemia during the workup.

Key Words: Anemia, Hemoglobin, clinical features, Nutritional anemia.