Prevalence of Anemia and Its Associated Factors Among Adult Diabetes Mellitus Patients at Debre Tabor General Hospital, Northcentral Ethiopia

Background

Diabetics Mellitus (DM) is a raised level of glucose in the blood due to either the body cannot produce enough amount of insulin hormone or use insulin effectively.¹ The global prevalence and impact of DM have increased dramatically, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.² It is one of the significant public health problems in developing countries due to the most rapid epidemiological transitions.^3,4

Globally it is estimated that 425 million people live with diabetes aged 20–79 years,⁵ 90% of whom account for type 2 diabetes mellitus.⁶ This magnitude will increase to 642 million by 2040.⁷ The prevalence of diabetes in Africa increased from 4 million in 1980 (3.1%) to 25 million (7.1%) in 2014, which increased by 129%. Here, from the total increment in Africa, Ethiopia accounts for 3.8%.¹

Anaemia is a reduction of haemoglobin concentration in blood, which consequently reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells unable to meet the physiological needs/requirements of the body.⁸ Anaemia is considered a public health problem in developing and developed countries due to the highest prevalence, which affects all stages of life that will be worse among vulnerable populations.⁹

Worldwide, 1.62 billion people are anaemic, which accounts for 24.8% of the global population. The highest prevalence was found in preschool-age children (47.4%), while the lowest was among men (12.7%).¹⁰ Anaemia is common in diabetic patients and increases morbidity and mortality, but its burden was not well characterized in sub-Saharan Africans. Also, the current guidelines on the management of diabetes do not recommend routine screening for anaemia.¹¹ The prevalence of anaemia among diabetic patients was 23% in Accra, Ghana, 55.5% at the primary health center attached to King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, 58.8% in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, and 84.8% at the Austin and Repatriation Medical Center (ARMC), Australia.^12–15

Developing countries similar to Ethiopia account for the most significant proportion of anaemia due to inadequate intake of nutrients, infectious diseases, and inherited conditions.¹⁶ On the other hand, again, people with chronic illnesses (kidney problems, cancer, diabetes, etc.) are the risk factors even if the causes of anaemia are multifactorial.¹⁷ Due to the development of diabetes mellitus, the nephropathy may arise, which further undermines the renal production of erythropoietin, positively contributing to an increased anaemic framework.¹⁸

Micronutrient deficiencies like cyanocobalamin, folate, and iron among Diabetic patients lead to anaemia. In addition to this, using medications (like Metformin) for a long duration may interfere with the absorption of cyanocobalamin, which may cause anaemia.¹⁹ These conditions show that being a diabetic patient is at risk of having anaemia.

The squeal secondary to anaemia among diabetic patients is very high due to none specific nature of signs and symptoms. Since anaemia and type 2 diabetes patients will have similar symptoms like pale skin, chest pain, numbness, or coldness in the extremities, shortness of breath, and headache.²⁰ Because of this, anaemia remains unidentified among diabetes patients. Anaemia is unrecognized in 25% of diabetic patients.²¹ Hence, it is vital to identify anaemia among diabetic patients to reduce the over consequence and burden.

Methods and Materials

Study Setting

This study was conducted in Debre Tabor General Hospital, Debre Tabor Town. Debre Tabor is the capital Town of South Gondar Zone, which is found 666Kms Northcentral of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. The hospital delivered services for a population of 2,047,206 (1,038,913 were males and 1,008,293 were females) according to the 2007 census. The Town has a latitude of 11º51ºE - 38º1ºE and longitude of 11.850 ºN - 38.017ºE. The overall elevation is 2706 meters (8878ft) above sea level. Debre Tabor General Hospital offers health services like inpatient, outpatient, neonatal intensive care, TB/leprosy, antenatal care, delivery, postnatal care, and family planning for the urban and rural communities of South Gondar Zone.

Study Design and Period

The institutional-based cross-sectional study design was employed from February 1 up to March 29, 2019.

Study Population

All adult DM patients in Debre Tabor General Hospital chronic care unit were the study population for this study.

Eligibility Criteria

All Adult DM patients in Debre Tabor General Hospital Chronic care unit were a part of this study. But pregnant, lactating, and severely ill adult DM patients were excluded from this study.

Sample Size Determination

A single population proportion formula was used to determine sample size by considering 23% of anaemia proportion of diabetic patients according to the study in Ghana,²⁶ a 95% of confidence level, and 5% marginal error. Then, the final sample size was 297 after adding a 10% nonresponse rate.

Sampling Technique

The study participants were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Because we cannot be confident who will visit the chronic care unit during the data collection period but we can estimate by taking the average number from previous follow up time. Also, we cannot estimate the actual number of DM patients that will come for the services during data collection period to have a sample frame. First, we estimate the number of adult Diabetic patients from the registration book. The expected number of Diabetic patients who came for these services was near to 2500. Then, we calculate the Kth interval, which was 8. So, we interviewed the study participants every 8th interval for two months.

Definition of Terms

Anemia: - when the diabetic patient Hemoglobin level was <13.0g/dL for a male or <12.0g/dL for a female. The severity was further classified as mild (11.0–12.9 for male, 11.0–11.9g/dl for female), moderate (8.0–10.9g/dl for both), and sever (<8.0g/dl for both).²²

Diabetes Mellitus Patient: - when the patient was diagnosed as a DM patient by a senior internist and start anti-diabetic medication before data collection. All these DM patients were registered as a diabetic patient under chronic diabetic care units of the Debre Tabor General Hospital to refill their medications and follow up.

Data Collection Method and Equipment

A structured interview administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The questionnaire had sociodemographic, health, and diet-related variables. The English version questionnaire was first adapted from EDHS and different literature. Then, it was translated into Amharic, the local language of the study area by using linguistic professionals to check its consistency. A two days training with pretest for five medical laboratory professionals were given related to techniques of the face to face interview, standard operating procedure, and measurements of Hemoglobin. The supervisor was following the data collection process throughout the data collection period with the principal investigator.

Before starting data collection, always, we checked the existence of materials and equipment like HemoCuvettes, HemoCue Hb 301 machine, Syringe, and sanitary materials like cotton, alcohol, and glove.

Venous blood was drawn after wiping the vein area with alcohol-soaked cotton for hygiene to get a 0.5mL blood to put a 10µL blood on HumoCuvtte. The sampled blood had been put on HemoCuvettes and to be inserted into the HemoCueHb 301 machine. Finally, the haemoglobin level was read and recorded on the questionnaire through pre-stated SOP.

Data Quality Assurance

A definition of concepts and terms had been done clearly with the Amharic language to avoid ambiguity. The pretest was done outside of the study area on 20 samples before the actual data collection period. The HemoCueHb 301 machine was calibrated by using Hemo–solutions, prepared for this purpose. The sampled blood in the Syringe was gently pressed on the HemoCuvettes to avoided air bubbles during filling.

Communication through the data collection period was employed daily to discuss the progress and problems faced during the data collection time. The collected data were checked for completeness and consistency by the investigators and supervisors. All data collectors were outside the chronic care unit to decrease bias.

Data Processing and Analysis

After data collection, the data were managed by editing, verification, coding, classification, and tabulation of collected data during data entry and analysis after checking completeness. The data entry was made by using EpiInfo version 7.2 software for Windows. Then, the SPSS version 21 software for Windows for further data analysis after export.

Descriptive analysis through frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation (SD) was done to describe the variables. All continuous data were checked for skewness using frequency distribution with a normal curve. During analytical analysis, a binary logistic regression model was employed to assess the independent effects of each variable. During bivariable logistic regression, variables had a p-value <0.25 were considered for multivariable analysis. During multivariable analysis, a p-value of <0.05 was considered to declare statistical significance. Both crude and adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were done to saw the strength of association.

Result

Sociodemographic Results of Study Participants

In this study, the response rate was 265 (89.22%). Among 265 participants, 178 (52.4%) were urban residents. The mean ± SD of age and family size of the participants was 48.69 ± 15.92 and 3.95 ± 1.61 respectively (Table 1).

Table 1 Sociodemographic Characteristics of the Study Participant in Debre Tabor General Hospital, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia, 2019 (n=265)

Medical and Dietary Related Characteristics

None of the respondents has done a recent blood donation or a recent blood transfusion. From all, 3(1.1%) and 36 (13.6%) of them had a recent history of smoking and intake of alcohol individually. Near to two fifths 101 (38.1%) of the participants were had known chronic illness rather than DM (the diseases were Hypertension and Asthma). Only 33 (12.5%) and 6(2.3%) reported that they were had and treated for anaemia and diarrhoea within the last three months. From the female respondents, 35 (85.4%) of them were reported that they had a normal menstruation cycle.

Most of the participant’s meal frequency was three times (181 (68.3%)) as shown in the table below (Table 2).

Table 2 Dietary Habit result of the Study Participants in Debre Tabor General Hospital Debre Tabor, Ethiopia, 2019 (n =265)

Magnitude and Factors Associated with Anaemia Among Diabetic Patients

The mean ± SD of haemoglobin value was 13.41 ± 2.85g/dl. In this study, the overall prevalence of anaemia was 79 (29.8%, 95% CI (24.27, 35.35)). Among these, 24 (9.1%), 46 (17.4%), and 9(3.4%) were severely, moderately, and mildly anaemic. Among anaemic DM patients, females account for the highest magnitude of anaemia 45 (57.0%).

During binary logistic regression: sex, educational status, family size, history of eating flesh and organ meat, and history of Intestinal parasitic infection were significant factors at P-value <0.2. Then, participants educational status, family size, intake of flesh meat, and intestinal parasite infection were significantly associated factors with the development of anaemia among diabetic patients during multivariable logistic regression.

Diabetic patients who were unable to read and write and able to read and write were 3.51 (AOR = 3.51 (95% CI (1.40, 8.75))) and 9.76 (AOR = 9.76 (95% CI (3.15, 30.24))) times more likely to develop anaemia as compared college and above. Among diabetic patients who have family sizes less than 4 were 47% (AOR = 0.53 (95% CI (0.29, 0.99))) less likely to had anaemia as compared to those who have more than four family sizes.

Among diabetic patients, those who had the dietary habit of flesh meat were 81% (AOR=0.19 (95% CI (0.05, 0.74))) less likely to had anaemia. Among diabetic patients, those who have had no history of IPI were 74% (AOR = 0.26 (95% CI (0.07, 0.95))) less likely to had anaemia as compared to those who were had (Table 3).

Table 3 Results of Binary and Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis of Anemic Status Among Adult Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Debre Tabor General Hospital, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia, 2019 (n=265)

Discussion

In this study, the prevalence of anaemia among DM patients was 79 (29.8%). This finding is similar to the research conducted in Wollo, Ethiopia (26.7%)²³ and Ghana¹³ but higher than a study conducted in Fenote Selam Hospital, Ethiopia.²⁴ This prevalence was lower than the finding from Saudi Arabia (55%).¹² Such type of anaemia is also a problem in developed countries.²⁵ This difference may be due to the complication of chronic diseases, level of awareness regarding nutritional care, and differences among sociodemographic characteristics.

Diabetic patients those who were unable to read and write and able to read and write were 3.51 (AOR = 3.51 (95% CI (1.40, 8.75))) and 9.76 (AOR = 9.76 (95% CI (3.15, 30.24))) times more likely to develop anaemia as compared college and above. This finding is similar to the study conducted in Ethiopia and Ghana^13,23,24,26 due to the sample population difference, informal education, and level of health awareness will be the reason.

Diabetic patients, who have a family size less than four were 47% (AOR = 0.53 (95% CI (0.29, 0.99))) less likely to had anaemia as compared to those who have more than four family size like a study in Saudi Arabia (23.2%) and in Ethiopia too.^12,25 When the family size increase, there is sharing of food and food insecurity, inadequate intake of nutrients, and financial crises. Also, larger family size may put a strain on family resources, which in turn may increase the risk of anemia by limiting the amount of foods with high iron content and bioavailability, such as pureed meats.

Those patients with the dietary habit of flesh meat were 81% (AOR=0.19 (95% CI (0.05, 0.74))) less likely to had anaemia. The adequate intake of hem iron-rich sources will be affected by the economic status of the respondents.^27,28

Diabetic patients without intestinal parasitic infections were 74% (AOR = 0.26 (95% CI (0.07, 0.95)) less likely to had anaemia as compared to those who were had, as the study in Ghana (15.3%). The prevalence of intestinal parasite infection in this study was 11.3%).¹³ These similarities might be due to lack of access to safe water, hygienic practices, and poor health-seeking behaviour for abdominal complaints.

However, this study was conducted in one centre that may limit its generalizability. Also, this might be limited in linking anaemia to specific nutrient deficiency, the questionnaire was not validated for this study, and unable to establish any possible causal link. This study did not include clinical assessment of diseases like chronic kidney diseases, type of anaemia, and clinical evaluation of anaemia. Besides this, the response rate was a little bit more than that we planned (>10%) due to invasive procedure during blood sample collection.

Conclusion

Here, anaemia is a moderate public health problem. The significant factors for the development of anaemia among diabetic patients were educational status, family size, the dietary habit of flesh meat, and history of intestinal parasite infections.

Regular anaemia assessment is essential by health care providers to reduce the burden and consequence. Also, health care workers shall have to give appropriate counselling on dietary intake based on the educational level and routine screening of intestinal parasite infection during the clinical assessment at chronic care units. Also, regular counselling to consume heme iron food sources with the family size is warranted.