Evaluation of serum electrolyte levels in iron deficiency anemia patients.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate electrolytes levels in patients suffering from iron deficiency anemia and to compare it with patients without anemia. Study Design: Descriptive Cross Sectional study. Setting: Department of Pathology, Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal. Period: November, 2019 to May, 2020. Material & Methods: After taking informed consent, five milliliter of blood was drawn from each patient. Blood sample was analyzed for electrolytes, complete blood counts and serum ferritin levels. Results were compared in normal and iron deficiency anemic groups. Results: A total of 287 clinically anemic suspects including 181 (63.0%) female and 106 (37.0%) male with mean age of patients as 36.11±12.23 were included in this study. A total of 205 (71.4%) of the suspects had anemia whereas frequency of anemia remained higher among females (78.5%) as compared to males (59.5%) in this study. On the basis of serum ferritin levels a total of 178 (62.0%) patients had iron deficiency. Mean values of Sodium (130.41±0.59) and Bicarbonate (24.10±0.31) remained low while mean Potassium (4.33±0.07) and Chloride (103.93±0.47) levels of Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) group remained high as compared to non-anemic group. Conclusion: Levels of sodium and bicarbonate are found to be on the lower side while potassium and chloride remained on higher side in patients with Iron deficiency Anemia in this study. Thus these findings indicate close monitoring of electrolytes to evade impediments during management of patients.