The Prevalence of Anemia and Its Associated Factors among Older Persons: Findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015

Prevalence and factors associated with anemia among HIV-infected women in sub-saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis of 18 countries

BACKGROUND

Despite the intended 50% reduction in anemia in women of reproductive age, this tendency has only worsened. Even though iron deficiency is the most prevalent cause of anemia, anemia and chronic illnesses like HIV are closely associated; in fact, 48.6% of people living with HIV who were 15 years of age or older had anemia. However, the burden of anemia among HIV-positive women in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries is not well documented. Therefore, the goal of our research was to investigate anemia and the factors that are linked to it in SSA women who had HIV infections.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted using demographic and health survey datasets from 18 SSA countries. A total of 7823 weighted samples were included. STATA version 16 software was used for analysis. A multilevel logistic regression model was fitted. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95% CI and a p-value < 0.05 was used to declare significantly associated factors.

RESULT

The overall prevalence of anemia was found to be 45.1% [95% CI: 43.97-46.18%]. Of those 5.05%, 37.97%, and 56.97% were severely, moderately, and mildly anemic, respectively. Education level of primary [AOR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.62, 0.89], secondary [AOR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.98], and higher [AOR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.55, 0.99], as well as current contraceptive use [AOR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.87] were negatively associated with anemia. While pregnancy [AOR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.94], breast feeding [AOR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.64], health insurance [AOR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.25, 1.80], and menstruation within six weeks prior to data collection [AOR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.20, 1.54] had a significant positive relation with anemia among HIV-infected women in SSA countries.

CONCLUSION

Anemia is a serious public health problem among HIV-infected women in SSA countries. Pregnancy, breast feeding, health insurance, and menstruation within six weeks prior to data collection were significant risk factors. On the other education and current contraceptive use were significant protective factors for anemia among HIV-infected women in SSA countries. Therefore, strategies aimed at early identification of anemia may lead to an improvement in the health of HIV-infected women.

Association of ambient air pollution with hemoglobin levels and anemia in the general population of Korean adults

BACKGROUND

Emerging evidence has suggested significant associations between ambient air pollution and changes in hemoglobin levels or anemia in specific vulnerable groups, but few studies have assessed this relationship in the general population. This study aimed to evaluate the association between long-term exposure to air pollution and hemoglobin concentrations or anemia in general adults in South Korea.

METHODS

A total of 69,830 Korean adults from a large-scale nationwide survey were selected for our final analysis. Air pollutants included particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 micrometers (PM10), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). We measured the serum hemoglobin concentration to assess anemia for each participant.

RESULTS

In the fully adjusted model, exposure levels to PM10, SO2, and CO for one and two years were significantly associated with decreased hemoglobin concentrations (all p < 0.05), with effects ranging from 0.15 to 0.62% per increase in interquartile range (IQR) for each air pollutant. We also showed a significant association of annual exposure to PM10 with anemia (p = 0.0426); the odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for anemia per each increase in IQR in PM10 was estimated to be 1.039 (1.001-1.079). This association was also found in the 2-year duration of exposure (OR = 1.046; 95% CI = 1.009-1.083; adjusted Model 2). In addition, CO exposure during two years was closely related to anemia (OR = 1.046; 95% CI = 1.004-1.091; adjusted Model 2).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides the first evidence that long-term exposure to air pollution, especially PM10, is significantly associated with reduced hemoglobin levels and anemia in the general adult population.

Dual nature of ferritin for hematologic, liver functional, and metabolic parameters in older diabetic patients

This study explored the association between ferritin with hematologic, liver functional, and metabolic parameters in older diabetic patients. A total of 210 diabetic patients aged 65 or older were classified into four groups according to the reference range of serum ferritin. Demographic variables and health-related lifestyle factors were obtained through the utilization of a standardized questionnaire. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, hematology test, and biochemical assessment were also performed. Among all patients, 29.5% had anemia. The percentage of anemia in groups low ferritin (< 40 μg/L), lower side within the reference range (40-120 μg/L), higher side within the reference range (121-200 μg/L), and high ferritin levels (> 200 μg/L) were 50.0, 27.7, 20.5, and 24.2% (P = 0.025), respectively. Low ferritin levels had a higher risk of anemia and a high red blood cell distribution width (RDW). High ferritin levels were associated with a higher risk of high glutamate pyruvate transaminase, obesity, high fasting blood glucose (FBG), and high postprandial blood glucose. The higher side within the reference range of ferritin also showed a higher risk of high FBG and high glycated hemoglobin. Nevertheless, there was no significant association between ferritin and inflammation marker, serum lipids or blood pressure. Overall, ferritin demonstrates a dual nature in older diabetic patients: low ferritin levels are linked to anemia or elevated RDW, while high levels are linked to obesity, increased liver enzymes, and worse glycemia control.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Anemia Among Hospital Admitted Patients in Eastern Ethiopia

Background

Anemia is one of the most common comorbidities frequently seen in admitted patients. However, there is a scarcity of evidence regarding anemia among hospital admitted patients in Ethiopia, particularly in the Harari Region. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of anemia among hospital admitted patients in Eastern Ethiopia.

Methods

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 25 to December 30, 2022. Four milliliters of venous blood were collected and complete blood count was done using the DxH 800 (Beckman Coulter, Inc, Miami, FL) hematology analyzer. The data were entered in Epi-data version 4 and exported to SPSS version 26 for statistical analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted. The level of significance was declared at a p-value of < 0.05.

Results

Of the 381 hospital admitted patients, 64.8% (95% CI = 60.01, 69.65) of the participants were anemic. Admitted patients who drank standard alcohol daily (AOR = 3.78, 95% CI = 1.71, 8.30), underweight (AOR = 9.39, 95% CI = 2.90, 30.46), and undernourished patients (AOR = 2.59, 95% CI = 1.15, 5.84), patients admitted with chronic kidney disease (AOR = 11.16, 95% CI = 4.06, 30.64), chronic liver disease (AOR = 3.20, 95% CI = 1.21, 8.47), deep vein thrombosis (AOR = 6.22, 95% CI = 1.98, 19.52), infectious disease (AOR = 9.71, 95% CI = 2.77, 34.02), and chronic non-communicable disease (AOR = 7.01, 95% CI = 1.90, 25.99) were all significantly associated with anemia.

Conclusion

Anemia was common among hospital admitted patients and should prompt the focus on admission diagnoses that are likely to play leading roles in etiology. This information indicates a need for routine screening of anemia for all admitted patients to improve their health.

Relationships between Physical Activity and Selected Chronic Diseases among Functionally Independent Long-Term Care Residents during the Post-Lockdown Period in Croatia

The aim of this observational study was to investigate the level and association of physical activity and selected chronic diseases in functionally independent LTC residents after prolonged physical and social isolation during COVID-19 in Croatia. Adhering to the inclusion criteria, 180 functionally independent residents were included in the study. Assessment of physical activity was carried out by 7-day motor monitoring. Prolonged physical and social isolation negatively affected the achieved level of physical activity of LTC residents (x¯ = 5058.74). Major depressive disorder resulted in significantly lower residents' physical activity scores, demonstrating a shrinking effect ranging from 0.42 to 0.45. A significant negative impact on the residents' physical activity was also found in the presence of osteoarthritis and iron deficiency anemia, where a downward effect was present in the range from 0.66-0.72 and 0.64 to 0.66. The presence of comorbidities has a significant negative impact on the residents' physical activity, where a downward effect is present in the range from 0.91-0.92.

Etiology of Anemia and Risk Factors of Mortality among Hospitalized Patients: A Real-Life Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Center in Greece

Anemia is a prominent global health issue with a wide variety of causes and can be associated with decreased quality of life, increased hospitalization, and higher mortality, especially in older individuals. Therefore, studies further shedding light on the causes and the risk factors of this condition should be performed. The aim of the present study was to examine the causes of anemia in hospitalized patients in a tertiary hospital in Greece and identify risk factors related to higher mortality. In total, 846 adult patients with a diagnosis of anemia were admitted during the study period. The median age was 81 years, and 44.8% were male. The majority of patients had microcytic anemia, with the median mean corpuscular volume (MCV) being 76.3 fL and the median hemoglobin being 7.1 g/dL. Antiplatelets were used by 28.6% of patients, while 28.4% were using anticoagulants at the time of diagnosis. At least one unit of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) was transfused in 84.6% of patients, and a median of two PRBCs was used per patient. A gastroscopy was performed in 55%, and a colonoscopy was performed in 39.8% of patients in the present cohort. Anemia was considered to be multifactorial in almost half the cases, while the most commonly identified cause was iron deficiency anemia, more commonly with positive endoscopic findings. Mortality was relatively low, at 4.1%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified higher B12 levels and longer duration of hospital stay to be independently positively associated with mortality.

Relative Handgrip Strength Mediates the Relationship between Hemoglobin and Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Korean Adults

Background: Little is known regarding how anemia and handgrip strength influence the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of older populations. This population-based study aimed to examine whether handgrip strength mediates the association between anemia and HRQoL in a representative sample of 6892 Korean adults aged ≥ 65 years (3753 females). Methods: HRQoL was assessed with the EuroQol-5 dimension. Anemia was defined according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, and handgrip strength was measured with a digital hand dynamometer. Results: Individuals with anemia were at increased risk for a lower HRQoL (odds ratio, OR = 1.285, p = 0.002) even after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, income, marital status, education, physical activity, and multimorbidity compared with individuals without anemia (OR = 1). Individuals with weak handgrip strength were also at increased risk for a lower HRQoL (OR = 1.429, p < 0.001) even after adjustment for all the covariates compared with individuals with normal handgrip strength (OR = 1). Mediation analysis with a bootstrapping procedure showed that relative handgrip strength mediated the relationship between hemoglobin and HRQoL (95% confidence interval, CI 0.0192 to 0.0289) even after adjustment for all covariates, with 42.0% of the total effect of hemoglobin on HRQoL explained. Conclusions: The current findings suggest that the impact of anemia on HRQoL is partially mediated by weak handgrip strength, implying the clinical importance of having or maintaining adequate hemoglobin and handgrip strength via healthy lifestyle choices to maintain a high HRQoL later in life.