Assessment of Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility and Its Determinants, and Comparison of Hematological Indices Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients on Follow-Up at Jimma Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases worldwide. Approximately 9.3% of the general population was estimated to have DM globally in 2019. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) in hyperglycemic patients is expected to increase and determine the rate of erythrocyte hemolysis.

Purpose

This study aimed to assess erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) and its determinants and to compare hematological indices among T2DM patients on follow-up at the Jimma Medical Center (JMC), Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional study involving 124 participants (each 62) of T2DM patients and controls was conducted from October to November 2020 using a structured questionnaire. 5 mL of venous blood was drawn to assess OF, complete blood count, and blood glucose levels. EOF was investigated using a series hypotonic solution of NaCl. The supernatant of the centrifuged sample was transferred to cuvette test tubes, and the hemolysis stage was read on a spectrophotometer. The collected data were coded and entered into Epi-data Version 3.1. The analysis was performed using SPSS Version 23.

Results

Compared with non-diabetic controls, patients with T2DM had significantly increased EOF. FBG >126mg/dl (AOR=7.741, 95% CI: 1.562–38.360), PPBG >200 mg/dl (AOR=7.576, 95% CI: 1.519–37.791), RDW (AOR=4.558, 95% CI: 1.136–18.284) were significantly associated with abnormal EOF. A statistically significant increase in total white blood cells and absolute neutrophil counts (P < 0.001) were observed in T2DM patients. From RBC indices, red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were significantly increased in T2DM patients (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study suggests that EOF was greater in patients with T2DM than in non-diabetic controls and was determined by FBG, PPBG, and RDW. The study also demonstrated that hematological index alterations were higher in T2DM subjects than in non-diabetic controls.

Keywords:

• diabetes
• osmotic fragility
• hematological indices
• RBC

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge Jimma University, Biomedical Science Department Unit of Physiology, and Jimma University Medical Center for their support throughout the study.

Disclosure

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.