[Anemia classification, prevalence and predictive factors in inflammatory bowel disease]

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Hematology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Anemia is a frequent complication and severity indicator in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
• Understanding anemia's prevalence, causes, and predictors in IBD is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence, etiology, predictive factors, and treatment of anemia in IBD patients.
• To assess the association between anemia and disease activity markers in IBD.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, cross-sectional study of 400 IBD patients (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).
• Analysis of hemoglobin levels, iron status, disease activity indices (Crohn’s Disease Activity Index, partial Mayo Score), and treatment regimens.
• Anemia classification and severity assessment using WHO criteria; iron deficiency defined by serum ferritin <30 µg/L.

Main Results:

• Anemia prevalence was 32.5% in the IBD cohort, predominantly mild to moderate.
• Iron deficiency anemia was the most common type (73%) among those with non-macrocytic anemia and available iron data.
• Anemia predictors included steroid treatment (OR: 4.2), clinical disease activity (OR: 381), and laboratory markers of disease activity (OR: 2.9).

Conclusions:

• Anemia, particularly iron deficiency anemia, is highly prevalent in IBD patients.
• Anemia is significantly associated with disease activity and steroid use in IBD.
• Effective diagnosis, classification, and treatment of anemia, considering iron balance, are vital for IBD management.