Many people with rheumatoid arthritis suffer from anemia

A study published in Cureus has highlighted the high prevalence of anemia among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Conducted by Dr. Jamal Shah and his team at Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, the research examined 330 RA patients in 2023 to explore the connection between RA and anemia.

The study found that more than half of the participants (54.55%) had anemia. On average, these patients had a hemoglobin level of 11.41 g/dL and a red blood cell count of 4.26 million/µL. Anemia was more common in patients with higher disease activity, as reflected in a Disease Activity Score (DAS) of 5.23 compared to 4.98 in those without anemia.

Anemia in these patients was closely linked to inflammation. Most anemic individuals had elevated levels of C-reactive protein (83.33%, averaging 28.79 mg/L) and an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (88.89%, averaging 45.17 mm/hour).

These markers indicate higher levels of inflammation, which are common in RA. The study also found that patients with anemia tended to have longer disease durations and more severe RA symptoms.

The authors of the study emphasized the importance of routine anemia screening and management for RA patients, especially for those with severe or long-lasting disease. Treating anemia in RA patients could potentially improve their overall health and quality of life.

“Future research should aim to uncover the mechanisms linking RA and anemia,” the authors wrote. They also called for long-term studies to better understand how the two conditions interact over time and to assess the effectiveness of anemia treatments in improving patient outcomes.

This research underscores the need for healthcare providers to pay close attention to anemia in RA patients as part of their overall care.

By addressing anemia, clinicians may not only alleviate a common complication but also improve the overall well-being of individuals living with this chronic and often challenging disease.

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The research findings can be found in Cureus.