title: The burden of anaemia in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anaemia (AN) is frequently associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and can negatively influence the quality of life of patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence and causes of AN in IBD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively performed a one-year multicentre observational study including all IBD cases attending six Units. We also investigated patients' main serological parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population included 965 IBD patients (582 CD; 383 UC), of whom 142 were in-patients and 823 out-patients. AN was diagnosed in 134 out of 965 IBD patients (14%). No significant difference in AN prevalence was observed between CD and UC. The prevalence of AN was higher in the hospitalized IBD (26% in- vs. 11.7% out-patients; p<0.01; OR 2.2) and in active disease (CD: 34% active vs. 16% inactive; p<0.01; OR 2.1 - UC: 26% active vs. 19% inactive; p=0.03; OR 1.3). Iron deficiency was present in 72 patients (53.7%), AN of chronic diseases in 12 (8.2%), mixed type AN in 11 (8.2%), thalassemia in 9 (6.7%), and macrocytic AN in 8 (5.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Southern Italy, AN is common in IBD and is more frequent in active disease and hospitalized patients. Iron deficiency still remains the major cause of AN in IBD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: annatesta82@virgilio.it.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rispo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine "Magrassi-Lanzara", Gastroenterology Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riegler
authors.affiliation: Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Selvaggi
authors.affiliation: Hospital of Marcianise, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Erminia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bottiglieri
authors.affiliation: Hospital of Sapri, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martorano
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rea
authors.affiliation: Hospital of Sapri, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gravina
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Olga Maria
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Nardone
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patturelli
authors.affiliation: Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine "Magrassi-Lanzara", Gastroenterology Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Agnese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caporaso
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castiglione
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anaemia; Crohn's disease; IBD; Ulcerative colitis