Anemia and Its Associated Factors Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending Debre Berhan Referral Hospital, North-East Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE: Anemia is one of the common complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), which has an adverse effect on the progression and development of other diabetes-related complications. In spite of this, relatively little information is available on the prevalence of anemia and associated factors among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. Thus, this study assessed the prevalence of anemia and associated factors among T2DM patients at Debre Berhan Referral Hospital (DBRH), North-East, Ethiopia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1 to May 30, 2019, among 249 T2DM patients with follow up at DBRH, selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory tests; such as hemoglobin measurements, red blood indices, and serum creatinine analysis. The data were coded and entered into Epi-data manager version 4.4.1.0, and analysis by using SPSS version 22 was carried out. To identify the determinant factors of anemia, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. P-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: The study showed 20.1% of the participants were anemic. Being age >60 years (AOR=3.06, 95% CI: 1.32–7.11), poor glycemic control (AOR=2.95, 95% CI: 1.22–7.15), eGFR 60–89.9 mL/min/1.73m(2) (AOR=2.91, 95% CI: 1.15–7.37), eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m(2) (AOR=6.58, 95% CI: 2.42–17.93), DM duration >10 years (AOR= AOR=2.75, 95% CI: 1.17–6.48), and having diabetic complications (AOR=3.81, 95% CI: 1.65–8.81) were significantly associated with anemia. CONCLUSION: One out of five T2DM patients had anemia. Poor glycemic control, decreased eGFR, presence of DM complications, duration of DM >10 years, and age >60 years were significantly associated with the occurrence of anemia among T2DM. Regular screening for anemia in all T2DM patients may help in the early detection and management of anemia.