Anemia among Adult Diabetic Patients Attending a General Hospital in Eastern Ethiopia: a Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Although anemia is a common condition among patients with diabetes mellitus, there is little evidence on anemia among this segment of population in Ethiopia at large and in the study setting in particular. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the magnitude of anemia and its associated factors among adult diabetic patients attending a general hospital in Eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 325 randomly selected adult diabetes mellitus patients attending a follow-up clinic at Gelemso General Hospital, Eastern Ethiopia. Data were collected through an interview using a pre-tested and structured questionnaire followed by physical and laboratory measurements. Data were then entered into EpiData Version.3.1 and analyzed by using STATA version 16.0. Binary logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with anemia. All statistical tests were declared significant at p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: The magnitude of anemia among adult diabetic patients was 30.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): 25.4%-35.4%). Anemia was higher in males (36%) than females (20.5%). Male gender (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2, 3.8), DM duration of ≥5 years (AOR= 1.9, 95% CI: 1.0, 3.7), presence of comorbidity (AOR= 1.9, 95% CI: 1.0, 3.7), and having diabetic complications (AOR= 2.3, 95% CI: 1.3, 4.2) were significantly associated with anemia. CONCLUSION: Anemia was a moderate public health problem among adult DM patients in the study setting. Being male in gender, duration of DM, presence of DM complications, and DM co-morbidities were factors associated with anemia. Therefore, routine screening and appropriate management of anemia targeting males, DM patients with longer duration of DM, and those with complications and co-morbidities should be devised to improve patients’ quality of life. Early diagnosis and regular monitoring of DM could also help to minimize further complications.