The Incidence of Anemia and the Impact of Poor Glycemic Control in Type-2 Diabetic Patients with Renal Insufficiency

Abstract

Background: Anemia is a common finding in patients with diabetes and renal insufficiency but the effect of poor glycemic control in such patients is not clearly defined.

Aim: To determine the impact of poor glycemic control in the incidence of anemia in type-2 diabetic patients with renal insufficiency.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012 and comprised 72 type-2 diabetic patients and 32 non-diabetic controls recruited from diabetes clinics of the Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital, Okada, Edo state, Nigeria. Patients were divided into groups according to glycemic control and renal function. Serum creatinine, hemoglobin concentration, blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin of subjects were measured. The pre­sence of anemia was defined by hemoglobin level <13.0 g/dL in men and <12.0 g/dL in women. Renal insufficiency was defined as serum creatinine level >1.5 mg/dL.

Results: Incidence of anemia in the study population was 27%. Diabetic patients with poor glycemic control had greater odds (OR = 3.71; 95% CI, 1.09 – 12.56) for anemia compared to those with good glycemic control irrespective of renal function. Furthermore, patients with poor glycemic control and renal insufficiency were at a greater risk of anemia compared to those with normal renal function (OR = 5.78; 95% CI, 1.34 – 24.92).

Conclusion: Higher incidence of anemia is associated with poor glycemic control especially in diabetic patients with renal insufficiency.

Keywords: Anemia, Type-2 diabetes mellitus, Glycemic control, Renal insufficiency