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Prevalence of anaemia in patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Irish Journal of Medical Science volume 175, Article number: 25 (2006) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Anaemia is an increasingly recognised entity in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Aims

We aimed to determine the prevalence of anaemia in our population of patients with diabetes, and to examine the factors associated with anaemia.

Methods

The haemoglobin (Hb) levels in a consecutive series of patients attending for annual review of their diabetes over a three-month period were measured. Patients were classified as anaemic as per the WHO criteria.

Results

During the period of study, 270 patients attended for review. Eleven per cent of males and 16% of females were anaemic. Seventy four per cent of anaemic patients had a serum creatinine <110μmol/l and 72% of anaemic patients had a calculated creatinine clearance of >60ml/min.

Conclusions

Anaemia was relatively common in patients attending for routine out-patient diabetes clinic review. The high prevalence of anaemia supports the routine screening for anaemia in the diabetes out-patient clinic, including in those without overt nephropathy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Endocrinology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15

    T. J. Cawood, U. Buckley, A. Murray, M. Corbett, D. Dillon, B. Goodwin & S. Sreenan

Authors
  1. T. J. Cawood
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  2. U. Buckley
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  3. A. Murray
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  4. M. Corbett
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  5. D. Dillon
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  6. B. Goodwin
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  7. S. Sreenan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Sreenan.

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Cawood, T.J., Buckley, U., Murray, A. et al. Prevalence of anaemia in patients with Diabetes Mellitus. Ir J Med Sci 175, 25 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03167944

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03167944

Keywords

  • Diabetic Nephropathy
  • Diabetic Retinopathy
  • Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
  • Urinary Albumin Excretion
  • Anaemic Patient