Abstract:
Prevalence of unrecognized iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and non-iron
deficiency anaemia (NIDA) are common among type 2 DM patients, leading to several
complications. Objective: Objective of this study was to compare selected biochemical
parameters of IDA and NIDA of type 2 diabetic patients, attending the Diabetic Centre,
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A
systematic random sampling method was used to recruit 300 patients. Serum albumin and
haemoglobin levels were measured. Among the 300 patients, anaemic patients were selected
and their serum ferritin and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) were measured to identify
IDA patients. Statistical analysis was carried out by independent sample t-test and MannWhitney U test considering p<0.05 as statistically significant. Data were presented as mean ±
SD and median (IQR). Results: IDA (n=32) and NIDA (n=37) patients had mean
haemoglobin levels of 9.74 (±1.54) and 9.31 (±1.69) g/dl, respectively. Mean serum albumin
levels of IDA and NIDA patients were 3.67 (±0.64) and 3.72 (±0.70) g/dl respectively and
not differed significantly. Median of FPG (Fasting Plasma Glucose) of IDA [6.02 (5.00-6.62)
mmol/l] and NIDA [6.36 (5.43-9.51) mmol/l] patients was statistically significant (p=0.019).
Median of serum ferritin of IDA [7.35 (4.65-8.3) ng/ml] and NIDA [28.9 (17.05-43.7) ng/ml]
patients were statistically significant (p<0.001). The median of TIBC of IDA patients was
[564.59 (267.94 – 961.72) µg/dl] higher than that of the NIDA patients [252.34 (169.85-
320.57) µg/dl] and differed significantly (p<0.001). Conclusion: Between these IDA and
NIDA patients, a significant difference was observed for fasting plasma glucose, serum
ferritin and TIBC. It is important to include biochemical investigations in the routine
screening of diabetic patients which can facilitate the identification of IDA and NIDA early
in the course of disease.
