Red Blood Cell Parameters and Their Correlation with Glycemic Control Among Type 2 Diabetic Adult Patients in Eastern Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background

Diabetes has been proposed to inflict an insult on the hematopoietic milieu marked by changes in hematological indices including red blood cell parameters. Thus, this study aimed to assess the red blood cell parameters and their correlation with glycemic control in type 2 diabetic adult patients in comparison with apparently healthy individuals.

Methods

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the chronic illness clinic of Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital from May 20 to July 10, 2022. A total of 220 (110 type 2 diabetic patients and 110 controls) study participants were selected by a simple random sampling technique. Five milliliters of venous blood were collected by the vacutainer blood collection technique. Red blood cell parameters and blood glucose levels were determined using UniCel DxH 800 and Biosystems A25 analyzers, respectively. Independent sample t-test and Pearson correlation test were used for the data analysis. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Statistically significant difference was observed in RBC parameters of T2DM patients and the control group. The mean RBC count, Hgb, Hct (P < 0.001), and MCHC (P = 0.002) in patients with type 2 diabetes was significantly lower than in the control group. However, the mean of RDW was significantly increased in type 2 diabetic patient groups than in the control group (P < 0.001). The mean RBC count, Hct, and Hgb in patients with good glycemic control were significantly higher than the patients with poor glycemic control. Besides, a statistically significant negative correlation was observed between glycemic control and RBC count, Hgb, and Hct level in diabetic patients.

Conclusion

In this study, a statistically significant difference was observed in red blood cell parameters of type 2 diabetic patients compared to the control group. A significant negative correlation was noted between glycemic control and RBC parameters in type 2 diabetic patients. Therefore, evaluation of RBC parameters should be considered for better management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Keywords:

• Eastern Ethiopia
• glycemic control
• red blood cell parameters
• type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abbreviations

AGE, Advanced Glycation End Products; BMI, Body Mass Index; CVD, Cardiovascular Disease; DM, Diabetes Mellitus; K2EDTA, Dipotassium Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic acid; FBS, Fasting Blood Sugar; HbA1c, Glycated hemoglobin; Hct, Hematocrit; Hgb, Hemoglobin; HFCSUH, Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital; MCH, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin; MCHC, Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration; MCV, Mean Corpuscular Volume; RBC, Red Blood Cell; RDW, Red blood cell Distribution Width; T2DM, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; WHR, Waist-to-Hip Ratio.

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank the data collectors and the study participants. Additionally, we would like to thank Haramaya University College of Health and Medical Sciences for ethical clearance.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting, revising and critically reviewing the manuscript. All authors have agreed on approval of the final manuscript to be published in the current journal and to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest related to this work.