A CLINICAL AND ETIOLOGICAL STUDY OF SEVERE ANEMIA (HAEMOGLOBIN%<7GM%) IN FEMALES (18-60) IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Anemia is a major global health concern, especially in developing countries such as India. Despite being preventable and easily treatable, the illness is prevalent in young children, pregnant women, and nursing moms. [1] Approximately 30% of the global population suffers from anemia due to various causes. [2-4] The World Health Organization estimates that anemia affects [1].
OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical profile of female patients, aged 18-60 years, presenting with a hemoglobin level of less than 7 gm% in the study population.
MATERIAL & METHODS: Study Design: Hospital-based, cross sectional study. Study area: The study was conducted in the Department of General Medicine Shadan Institute of Medical Sciences & Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana from March 2023 to August 2023. Sample size: Study consisted a total of 50 subjects. Sampling Technique: Simple Random technique. Study tools and Data collection procedure: 50 patients admitted to the medical wards meeting all the exclusion and inclusion criterion were studied. All the patients were subjected to a detailed history and physical examination. Their social and dietary habits were enquired. The details were recorded in the proforma. All the patients underwent a series of diagnostic investigations. They were hemogram, ESR, Blood urea, blood sugar, serum creatinine, serum electrolytes, complete urine examination, stool for ova and cysts, stool for occult blood and a chest X-ray. Additional investigations were done as required in the case for the establishment of diagnosis.
Results: About 21 patients had hepatomegaly of which 13 were congestive, 3 were due to lymphomas/leukemias, 3 patients out of total of 21 patients with nutritional anemia had hepatomegaly i.e., about 14% incidence one patient had malaria and the other one amoebic liver abscess. 19 patients had splenomegaly of which 5 had nutritional anemia, 8 had leukemia/ lymphoma hence, 8 of 9 patients with hemopoietic malignancy had splenomegaly and only 5 of the 21 patients with nutritional anemia had splenomegaly.
CONCLUSION: Malignancy both hemopoietic and non-hemopoietic accounted for about 40% of cases in 5th and the 6th decades. Presence of hepatosplenomegaly and / or lymphadenopathy points towards hemopoietic malignancy as the cause of anemia. Congestive heart failure is more frequently seen as the severity of anemia increases, being 60% in patients with hemoglobin less than 3 gm%.