Endocrine Abstracts

Aim of the study: The main objectives were to determine incidence and type of anemia in patients with type 2 diabetes and the differences considering gender, age and duration of type 2 diabetes.

Material and methods: The research was structured as a cross-sectional research with historical data. The research used data collected during regular check-ups in primary health care clinics in the Osijek Health Center, Croatia, from April to June 2023. Collected data were: demographic data, duration of type 2 diabetes, the occurence of microvascular and macrovascular complications and type of therapy used for type 2 diabetes. The following parmeters were obtained form laboratory findings: hemoglobin values, MCV, MCH, MCHC, iron values, UIBC, TIBC, fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin A1c.

Results: The study comprised 59 metformin-treated participants (46 % men and 54 % women), median age of 68. The median duration of type 2 diabetes was 8 years. 29 % of patients had macrovascular and 17 % of them had microvascular complications. 20 % of patients had anemia. 42% had mild anemia, whereas 58% had significant anemia. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of anemia based on gender (Fischer’s exact test, P=0.33), the presence of microvascular (Fischer’s exact test, P=0.48) and macrovascular complications (Fischer’s exact test, P=0.41), age (Mann Whitney U test, P=0.07), or type 2 diabetes duration (Mann Whitney U test, P=0.62). According to the morphological division normocytic and normochromic anemia were most often represented while etiologically the most represented were non-specific anemias. Subjects with normocytic anemia were significantly older, with a median age of 81 years (interquartile range from 78 to 82 years) compared to patients with microcytic and macrocytic anemia (Kruskal Wallis test, P=0.04).

Conclusion: Anemia is one of the most prevalent blood diseases among type 2 diabetics, and it can be caused by a variety of factors, including antidiabetic medications. Based on our findings, we can infer that anemia in individuals with type 2 diabetes on metformin medication is caused by iron deficiency and chronic illness. Because of the high incidence of anemia in these patients, constant monitoring and management of the values critical to detecting the presence and type of anemia is very important.

Keywords: anemia; diabetes mellitus; haemoglobin; metformin