Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.57140/mj.55.2.3

Anemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Marko Pirić orcid.org/0000-0003-0287-7861 ; Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Medicinski fakultet Osijek, Osijek, Hrvatska; Dom zdravlja Osječko-baranjske županije, Osijek, Hrvatska
Dunja Šojat orcid.org/0000-0001-7269-3334 ; Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Medicinski fakultet Osijek, Osijek, Hrvatska; Dom zdravlja Osječko-baranjske županije, Osijek, Hrvatska
Mirjana Kišvalubac orcid.org/0009-0003-9296-4105 ; Dom zdravlja Vinkovci, Vinkovci, Hrvatska
Tatjana Bačun ; Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Medicinski fakultet Osijek, Osijek, Hrvatska; Klinički bolnički centar Osijek, Osijek, Hrvatska
Nataša Buljan ; Specijalistička ordinacija obiteljske medicine Nataša Buljan, dr.med., Zagreb, Hrvatska
Venija Cerovečki ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Medicinski fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska; Dom zdravlja Zagreb-Centar, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the research is to examine the frequency and types of anemia in patients with
type 2 diabetes depending on gender, age, and therapy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
Material and methods: The research is a cross-sectional study with historical data. The research used
data collected during regular check-ups for patients with type 2 diabetes in primary health care offices in
Osijek Health Center from February to June 2022. The collected data were demographic data, data on the
duration of diabetes and the used therapy, data on the presence of diabetic nephropathy, fasting glucose
values, values of glycosylated hemoglobin, iron, unsaturated and total iron binding capacity, hemoglobin,
average erythrocyte volume, average hemoglobin in erythrocyte and average concentration of hemoglobin
in erythrocyte.
Results: Anemia was recorded in 19% of the subjects and was usually normocytic normochromic,
characterized as mild or moderate. Etiologically, the most prevalent were anemia of chronic disease and
mixed anemia. The average age of patients with anemia was 12 years higher than those without anemia.
Normocytic normochromic and hypochromic anemia occurred statistically significantly more often in
elderly patients, as did mixed anemia. No difference was observed in the frequency of anemia regarding
the treatment of diabetes with monotherapy or combined therapy. A significantly higher frequency of
anemia was observed in patients who used sulfonylurea derivatives. The first 5 years of metformin
treatment were significantly associated with the onset of anemia of chronic disease, and treatment lasting
longer than 10 years with the onset of mixed anemia.
Conclusion: Regular screening is essential as a part of routine controls because patients with type 2
diabetes have a high incidence of anemia. This is especially significant for elderly individuals with renal
insufficiency and poor disease control, as well as for patients receiving sulfonylurea derivative treatment.

Keywords

Anemia; Type 2 Diabetes mellitus; Diabetic complications; Metformin; Sulfonylurea Derivatives

Hrčak ID:

332509

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/332509

Publication date:

20.6.2025.

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