Spectrum of anemia and red cell parameters of patients in a tertiary care hospital in rural South India

Original Article Aims: To know the distribution and severity of anemia in different age groups in rural south India. To know the morphological pattern of anemia in all age groups and To know the red cell parameters in elderly patients with anemia. Material & methods: A prospective study was conducted by taking two hundred anemic patients. They were divided into four groups (pediatric, adult males & females of 12 – 65 years, and elderly above 65 years). Red cell parameters and peripheral smear examination were done in all patients after taking clinical history. Red cell parameters like hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and red cell distribution width obtained by using auto-analyzer. Results: Two hundred cases of anemia studied-36 cases were in pediatric age group, 61 cases were males aged between 12-65 years, 68 cases were females aged between 12-65 years, 35 cases were patients aged more than 65 years. Severity of anemia was more among females aged between 12-65 years. Iron deficiency anemia was the most common in all age groups followed by normocytic normochromic and dimorphic anemia. All red cell parameters showed decline in elderly patients. Isolated macrocytic anemia was least common and all were due to underlying liver disease. Conclusion : Iron deficiency anemia is seen in all age groups. Severity of anemia is more in case of females aged between 12-65 years. Dimorphic anemia is more common in elderly patients due to nutritional deficiency. Red cell parameters are seen to decline in all types of anemia in the elderly patients. Timely diagnosis of anemia and correction of its treatable cause may improve the quality of life in elderly individuals. Present study calls for interventions to improve intake of dietary iron, vitamins, better access to healthcare and health education in cases of anemia.