Emergency Room as a Window for Identifying Undiagnosed Anemia: a Clinical Evaluation.

IF 0.7 4区医学 Q4 MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY

Clinical laboratory Pub Date : 2026-08-01 DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2025.250915

Rana G Zaini

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Anemia is a major global health concern with significant clinical consequences, particularly when undiagnosed. The emergency department (ED) provides an important opportunity for opportunistic screening; however, data on undiagnosed anemia in Saudi Arabia are limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and hematological characteristics of previously undiagnosed anemia among adult ED visitors in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Security Forces Hospital, Makkah, from October through December 2024. Adult patients (≥ 18 years) without a prior diagnosis of anemia were included, while pregnant women and those with trauma or active bleeding were excluded. Demographic and clinical data were retrieved from medical records. Hemoglobin (Hb) levels were analyzed according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Red blood cell indices, including mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), were used to classify anemia types. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS; chi-squared and t-tests were applied, with p < 0.05 considered significant. A total of 135 adults were enrolled.

Results: The prevalence of previously undiagnosed anemia was 27.4% (n = 37). No significant differences were observed by gender (p = 0.96), age group (p = 0.28), or nationality (p = 1.00). Anemic patients had significantly lower Hb levels than non-anemic individuals (p < 0.001). Among anemic patients, 37.8% had microcytic anemia, 59.5% had normocytic anemia, and 2.7% had macrocytic anemia. A significant association between low MCV and anemia suggested iron deficiency anemia as the predominant cause. Over one-quarter of ED patients had undiagnosed anemia.

Conclusions: Routine screening in EDs could facilitate early detection and timely intervention to reduce complications.

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急诊室作为鉴别未确诊贫血的窗口：临床评价

背景：贫血是全球主要的健康问题，具有重要的临床后果，特别是在未确诊的情况下。急诊科（ED）为机会性筛查提供了重要的机会；然而，沙特阿拉伯关于未确诊贫血的数据有限。本研究旨在确定沙特阿拉伯麦加成人ED患者中未确诊贫血的患病率和血液学特征。方法：2024年10月至12月在麦加安全部队医院进行了一项横断面研究。既往无贫血诊断的成年患者（≥18岁）被纳入研究，而孕妇和有创伤或活动性出血的患者被排除在外。从医疗记录中检索人口统计和临床数据。根据世界卫生组织（WHO）标准分析血红蛋白（Hb）水平。红细胞指标，包括平均红细胞体积（MCV）和平均红细胞血红蛋白（MCH），用于区分贫血类型。采用SPSS进行统计分析；采用卡方检验和t检验，p < 0.05为显著性。共有135名成年人参加了这项研究。结果：既往未确诊贫血的患病率为27.4% （n = 37）。性别（p = 0.96）、年龄组（p = 0.28）、国籍（p = 1.00）无显著差异。贫血患者的Hb水平明显低于非贫血个体（p < 0.001）。在贫血患者中，37.8%为小细胞性贫血，59.5%为正细胞性贫血，2.7%为大细胞性贫血。低MCV和贫血之间的显著关联提示缺铁性贫血是主要原因。超过四分之一的ED患者患有未确诊的贫血。结论：急诊常规筛查有助于早期发现，及时干预，减少并发症。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Clinical laboratory 医学-医学实验技术

CiteScore

1.50

自引率

0.00%

发文量

494

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Clinical Laboratory is an international fully peer-reviewed journal covering all aspects of laboratory medicine and transfusion medicine. In addition to transfusion medicine topics Clinical Laboratory represents submissions concerning tissue transplantation and hematopoietic, cellular and gene therapies. The journal publishes original articles, review articles, posters, short reports, case studies and letters to the editor dealing with 1) the scientific background, implementation and diagnostic significance of laboratory methods employed in hospitals, blood banks and physicians'' offices and with 2) scientific, administrative and clinical aspects of transfusion medicine and 3) in addition to transfusion medicine topics Clinical Laboratory represents submissions concerning tissue transplantation and hematopoietic, cellular and gene therapies.