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

Abstract

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.

Keywords:

• anemia
• prevalence
• associated factors
• admitted patients
• Ethiopia

Abbreviations

ACD, Anemia of Chronic Disease; BMI, Body Mass Index; CKD, Chronic kidney disease; CLD, Chronic Liver Disease; COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; HIV, Human Immune Virus; Hgb, Hemoglobin; HFCSUH, Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital; IBD, Inflammatory Bowel Disease; IDA, Iron Deficiency Anemia; MCH, Mean Cell Hemoglobin; MCHC, Mean cell Hemoglobin concentration; MCV, Mean Cell Volume; MUAC, Middle-Upper Arm Circumference; NCD, Non-Communicable Disease; RBC, Red Blood Cell; WHO, World Health Organization.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Haramaya University, all hospital staff members of the hospitals, data collectors, supervisors, study participants, and questionnaire translators for their assistance.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed significantly to the work reported in the conceptualization, study design, execution, acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data, as well as took part in drafting, revising, and critically assessing the paper. All authors have agreed to approve the final paper for publication in the current journal and to be held accountable for all elements of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

This study got no specific financing from government, commercial, or non-profit organizations.