INSIGHTS INTO ANEMIA AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS FROM KERALA’S EASTERN HIGHLANDS: A SINGLE CENTER INVESTIGATION

Dr. Jawahar R.*, Dr. Athira M. Venu, Dr. Mahin O. S., Dr. Anand and Dr. Nishad Raveendran

ABSTRACT

Anemia is one of the most common complications of CKD. The prevalence and severity of anemia increases with advancing stages of CKD. In this study we analyzed the profile of anemia in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis at our centre. ESKD patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis at Holy Family Hospital, Thodupuzha were included in the study. Total of 143 Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5D patients were enrolled for the study. All the patients were on Thrice weekly Inj. Erythropoitin 4000 units given subcutaneously. All patients were receiving monthly IV iron depending on their Iron status. Hemoglobin of less than 13 gm/dl in males and less than 12 gm/dl in females was considered as anemia. Anemia was further classified as Mild, Moderate and Severe based on Hb levels. Mild anemia: Hb between 9gms to 11gms, Moderate anemia: 7gms to 9gms and Severe anemia: less than 7gms. Iron deficiency was defined by S. Ferritin <100 ng/ml and TSAT < 20%.Anemia was seen in 101 (70.6%) patients. Mild anemia was seen in 28 (19.5%) patients, moderate anemia was seen in 58 (40.6%) patients and severe anemia was seen in 15 (10.4%) patients.Among all the patients on Twice weekly HD, 95.5% patients were having anemia, while 57.8 % of patients on thrice weekly MHD were anemic. Iron deficiency was seen in 23 of 101 patients with anemia i.e. 22.77%. Functional Iron deficiency was seen in 29 of 101 patients i.e. 28.7%. (Hb:Hemoglobin, CKD:Chronic Kidney Disease, ESKD: End Stage Kidney Disease).

Keywords: Anemia, Hb, CKD, ESKD, Hemodialysis.