[High frequency of anemia in COPD patients admitted in a tertiary hospital].
BACKGROUND
Anemia is related to chronic and inflammatory diseases. Moreover, it is a factor of worse outcome in heart failure or myocardial infarction. Despite the importance of hemoglobin as a globular oxygen carrying protein, there are few studies on anemia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).


OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and the characteristics of the anemia in COPD patients admitted to a tertiary hospital within a one year period.


METHODS
Anthropometric and clinical data, tobacco habit, lung function tests, arterial blood gases and a basic study of anemia (BSA) were collected from digital clinical files.


RESULTS
A total of 177 patients were enrolled. Mean age was 70 (range 44-95), FEV1 was 35 (15%) and hemoglobin (Hb) 136(22) g/dl. Sixty-six (37%) patients had chronic respiratory failure (CRF) and 59 (33%) were receiving long-term oxygen therapy. A total of 56 (31%) had anemia (Hb < 130 g/dl in men or < 120 g/dl in women) with a mean Hb of 111(13). Anemia was normocytic normochromic in 32 cases (58%). BSA was obtained in 24 patients (42.85%) and showed that 10 patients (41%) had anemia of chronic disease, 6 patients (25%) had iron deficiency and 8 (34%) had other causes. It should be mentioned that 35 patients (53%) had CRF had anemia but only 8 patients had erythrocytosis (4.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Anemia was frequent in these patients and was an underdiagnosed comorbidity.
Portillo
K
K
Departamento de Pneumología, Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. karisoe@yahoo.es
Belda
J
J
Antón
P
P
Casan
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology
D006454:Hemoglobins