Endocrine Abstracts

Aims: Anemia occurs early and predicts high risk of cardiovascular events and death in patients with diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of anemia on the quality of life of patients with early diabetic nephropathy.

Methods: We investigated 95 anemic and 32 non-anemic patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and early diabetic nephropathy (CKD stages 1–3). Anemia was defined according to WHO criteria. Anemic patients were divided into groups 1–3 according to the stage of CKD. Patients’ quality of life was assessed with SF-36 health survey. Student’s t-test was used for statistical analysis.

Results: As compared to patients without anemia subjects from groups 1–3 had lower scores of physical role functioning (49.8±4.2 vs 25.0±7.2, 34.8±3.0 and 12.5±9.6, respectively, P<0.05) and emotional role functioning (57.9±5.2 vs 33.6±5.9, 39.8±3.5 and 33.5±6.2, respectively, P<0.05). Groups 1 and 2 had no significant differences in other SF-36 sections with the non-anemic group. Patients in group 3 had lower scores of general health perceptions, physical functioning, bodily pain, vitality and mental health than patients in the non-anemic group: 27.4±4.1 vs 43.3±3.2, 25.0±4.2 vs 65.9±6.9, 43.7±3.3 vs 60.3±3.9, 32.5±5.8 vs 49.6±4.2 and 38.8±3.5 vs 57.8±2.8, respectively (P<0.05). Social role functioning was similar in all four groups.

Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that anemia has a substantial influence on patients’ quality of life in settings of early diabetic nephropathy. Physical role functioning and emotional role functioning are affected by anemia irrespective of the CKD stage.