CHARACTERISTICS OF ANEMIA AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG INPATIENTS IN THE GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE DEPARTMENT - TRA VINH GENERAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Anemia is common among hospitalized patients, particularly adults and older people, and may reduce quality of life and exacerbate underlying diseases. Describing anemia characteristics and related factors is important to guide appropriate screening and management in clinical practice. Objectives: (1) To describe anemia characteristics and (2) to investigate factors associated with anemia severity among inpatients in the General Internal Medicine Department, Tra Vinh General Hospital. Materials and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional descriptive study included 196 inpatients aged ≥ 18 years who were diagnosed with anemia according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria and admitted from June to August 2023. Data collected included demographic characteristics, medical history, habits, related comorbidities, and laboratory indices. Anemia severity was classified according to WHO standards. Data were analyzed using Stata 14.0, and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age was 58.1 ± 16.2 years, with patients aged ≥ 60 years accounting for 50.5%. Females comprised 54.1% of the study population. Most patients resided in rural areas (86.2%). Regarding ethnicity, 70.9% were Kinh and 29.1% were Khmer. Normocytic normochromic anemia was the most common morphology (78.0%), followed by microcytic hypochromic anemia (17.9%) and macrocytic anemia (4.0%). Moderate anemia accounted for 60.2% of cases, severe anemia for 24.0%, and mild anemia for 15.8%. Factors significantly associated with anemia severity included a history of anemia, chronic kidney disease (CKD), iron deficiency anemia, aplastic anemia, thalassemia, alcohol use, and anemia morphology (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Among medical inpatients, moderate anemia and normocytic normochromic morphology predominated. Several chronic and hematologic conditions were associated with anemia severity, indicating the need for enhanced screening and appropriate anemia management in these patient groups.