Study of anemia pattern and its correlation with hematological parameters in a tertiary care centre

Introduction: WHO defines anemia as decrease in total red blood cell count or haemoglobin level below the normal percentage for that age. Decrease in the haemoglobin results in reduced oxygen delivery to the tissue resulting in hypoxia. The aims and objectives of this study is to detect the prevalence and type of anemia by evaluating the haematological parameters of all the samples that were received. Materials and Methods: Using EDTA vacutainer tubes, blood samples were collected from inpatients of all age groups. Total RBC count, hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and red blood cell indices such as mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and red cell distribution width were analysed and correlated with peripheral smear. Results: Out of 4350 samples, 45.5% patients were diagnosed as anemic. Microcytic hypochromic blood picture accounts for 48% which is the predominant type followed by other types such as normocytic anemia, dimorphic smear and macrocytic anemia. Males were commonly affected when compared to females. Conclusion: Etiopathogenesis of anemia varies according to the age group. The frequency of anemia increases as age advances. Anemia is associated with various conditions such as nutritional deficiency, blood loss, infections and chronic diseases the predominant cause being iron deficiency.