The Prevalence of Anaemia and Its Associated Risk Factors in Adult Saudis with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing health challenge worldwide and is associated with significant complications. Anaemia is another chronic medical condition that is associated with T2DM and adds to the complications associated with it. We conducted this study to evaluate the prevalence and the associated predictors of anaemia within a group of adult patients with T2DM at the Royal Commission Hospital (RCH) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024, during which time the participants had regular follow-up visits at the RCH. All data required for the study were obtained from their electronic medical records at the RCH. Results: A total of 4,311 patients diagnosed with T2DM were recruited for this study. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) age was 57.00 (17.0) years, and 2,186 (50.7%) of the participants were males. The median (IQR) value for the body mass index was 30.33 (7.91) kg/m2 and 7.11% (1.64) for haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Anaemia was relatively high among this group of participants (22.1%), specifically among females (66.00% females vs. 34.00% males). In the multivariate analysis, we found significant associations between anaemia in adult patients with T2DM and age, “adjusted odds ratios” (AOR) of 1.003 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.001–1.012), gender AOR of 2.443 (95% CI: 2.086‒2.861), obesity AOR of 0.735 (95% CI: 0.595‒0.908), overweight AOR of  0.725 (0.570‒0.921), diagnosis of hyperlipidaemia of AOR 0.792 (95% CI: 0.676 ‒ 0.929), diagnosis of hypertension AOR of 1.252 (95% CI: 1.052 ‒1.491) and  lower diastolic blood pressure AOR, 0.988(95% CI:0.975‒0.988). Conclusion: A higher prevalence of anaemia was reported in patients with T2DM, particularly among females. Older age, female gender, overweight and obesity, history of hypertension, history of hyperlipidaemia and lower diastolic blood pressure were significant predictors of anaemia in this group of patients.