[Anemia in primary care: etiology and morphological characteristics].
OBJECTIVE
To find the morphological characteristics and causes of the types of anaemia seen at a primary care centre.


METHODS
Descriptive, observational study.


METHODS
Urban health centre.


METHODS
People attending for a year who had an anaemia defined by haemoglobin figures below 13 g/dl in males and 12 g/dl in women.


RESULTS
152 patients with anaemia were identified. The most common types of anaemia were iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA), anaemia due to chronic illness (ACI) and post-haemorrhage anaemia (48%, 26.3% and 6.6%, respectively). Anaemia due to vitamin B12 deficit was detected in four patients, Thalassaemia minor in two, haemolytic anaemia in two, and a refractory anaemia in one patient. The most common cause of IDA was gynaecological in origin; and the commonest cause of ACI was neoplasm. The main findings of digestive origin in IDA were oesophagitis in two patients, duodenal ulcer in one, erosive gastritis in one, gastric neoplasm in one, colonic neoplasm in two and Crohn's disease in one. 13.7% of the anaemia studied in PC required hospital referral.


CONCLUSIONS
Anaemia is a common health problem in primary care (PC), with a rough incidence of one case per month per doctor. Its main types are iron-deficiency anaemia and anaemia due to chronic illness. Most cases were detected in PC and most can be studied properly at this care level.
Farrús Palou
M
M
CAP El Carmel, Barcelona. 18234mfp@comb
Pérez Ocaña
A
A
Mayer Pujadas
M A
MA
Piquer Gibert
M
M
Mundet Tudurí
X
X
Iglesias Rodal
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D000753:Anemia, Refractory / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D014505:Urban Population; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology