To Study the Incidence and Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Adult Males - a Prospective Study

Objectives: To find the incidence and prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) among adult males followed up in a tertiary teaching hospital of Mumbai. To study aetiological factors and clinical profile of iron deficiency anaemia in adult male patients and correlate with haematological parameters.

Methods: This was a prospective control study performed in a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai over a period of 1 year. The study included 100 iron deficiency anaemia male patients (indoor & outdoor) above age 14 years. Informed consent was taken from each patient according to the Helsinki protocol. After the valid consent of the patients, data was recorded in the proforma.

Inclusion Criteria: 1) All male patients with age > 14 yrs, 2) Haemoglobin < 13 gm% (normal 13-17 g/dl) with MCV < 75 fl (normal 76-96 fl).

Exclusion Criteria: 1)Patients with iron deficiency anaemia due to liver or kidney diseases. 2) Haematological malignancy causing anaemia. 3) Dimorphic anaemia.

Results: This study concludes that 72.0% of the cases had moderate anaemia as their range of Haemoglobin was between 6-10 g/dl. 18.0% of the subjects whose haemoglobin was in range 10-13 g/dl were suffering from mild anaemia. 10.0% of the cases were severe anaemic as their haemoglobin levels dropped below 6 g/dl.

Conclusions: The findings of high prevalence of anaemia (72.0%) in adult males need further investigation and corroboration in other studies.