The Association of Anemia with Vitamin D Deficiency among Patients Visiting King Khalid General Hospital in Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
Muath Alanazi
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia.
Raed Alharbi
Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia.
Saleh Aloyuni
Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia.
Ranjay Choudhary
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia.
Wael Alturaiki
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia.
Saeed Banawas
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia and Health and Basic Sciences Research Center, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Bader Alshehri
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed A. Alaidarous *
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia and Health and Basic Sciences Research Center, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To assess the association between vitamin D deficiency and anemia among patients visiting King Khalid General Hospital in Majmaah City, Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: We reviewed the medical records of 120 patients (median age, male 37.44 [±17.86] and female 43.22 [±16.23] years; range 1–96 years) who attended the King Khalid General Hospital laboratory in Majmaah city, Saudi Arabia, between January 2019 and January 2020. The laboratory data included the following parameters: complete blood count (Hb, MCV, MCHC, MCH, Hct, WBC, RBC, and Plt) and vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels.
Results: The chi-squared analysis showed that moderate anemia was highest among the participants who had vitamin D levels >30 ng/ml and less than 20 ng/ml, with a prevalence rate of 5% (n=6) for each category. Mild anemia was prevalent among 4.12% (n=5) of the participants with vitamin D levels <20 ng/ml. Finally, there were significant associations between parameters including age, RBC count, WBC count, platelet count, MCV, MCH, MCHC, hematocrit, vitamin D, and anemia. In addition, the odds ratio results indicated that mild vitamin D deficiency was associated with the degree of anemia, ranging from mild to moderate (OR=1.63 to 1.92). Moderate vitamin D deficiency was associated with the degree of anemia, ranging from mild to moderate (OR=1.76 to 1.97). The results confirmed a negative association between normal vitamin D values and the degree of anemia.
Conclusion: There is a significant association between vitamin D deficiency and anemia among patients visiting King Khalid General Hospital in Majmaah City, Saudi Arabia.
Keywords: Vitamin D, anemia, complete blood count, hospital