Trends in Iron Indices among Non-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients with Anemia

The objective of this study was to assess the trends in iron indices among non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (ND-CKD) patients with anemia attending a tertiary hospital in northern Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with ND-CKD and concurrent anemia, over a period of six months in the Department of Medicine at Rangpur Medical College Hospital, Rangpur, Bangladesh. A total of 50 patients were selected through purposive sampling. The staging of CKD and the severity of anemia were determined according to the criteria established by the National Kidney Foundation and the World Health Organization. Data collection was facilitated using a pre-structured questionnaire, and statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 25.0. Mean age of the patients was 47 years, with slight male predominance. Overall low iron indices were observed in 22% of the patients where 16% had absolute iron deficiency and 6% had functional deficiency. Median serum ferritin was 193 (616) ng/ml. Mean levels of serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation (TSAT) were 80.80±34.40μg/dl, 266.84±71.62μg/dl and 30.54±10.36%. Serum ferritin & TIBC tended to increase and iron and TSAT tended to decrease with the progression of CKD. But no statistical significance was noted (p>.05). Iron deficiency is prevalent in ND-CKD patients with anemia in Northern Bangladesh, indicating a need for regular monitoring and tailored management. Early intervention is crucial to improve patient outcomes and prevent severe anemia.