More Than Half of People With Rheumatoid Arthritis Have Anemia

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Anemia is prevalent among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a study published online Oct. 26 in Cureus.

Jamal Shah, M.B.B.S., from Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, and colleagues examined the prevalence of anemia among 330 patients with RA presenting at a tertiary care hospital in 2023.

The researchers found that more than half of participants had anemia (54.55 percent). The mean hemoglobin level among these patients was 11.41 g/dL, and the red blood cell count averaged 4.26 million/µL. The Disease Activity Score was higher in patients with anemia (mean of 5.23 versus 4.98 in those without anemia). Most people with anemia had elevated C-reactive protein levels (83.33 percent; mean C-reactive protein, 28.79 mg/L) and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (88.89 percent; mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 45.17 mm/hour). There were significant associations observed between anemia and longer disease duration, higher RA severity, and increased inflammatory markers.

“These findings underscore the critical importance of routine screening and management of anemia in RA patients, particularly those with severe or prolonged disease, as addressing anemia could enhance overall patient outcomes and quality of life,” the authors write. “Future research should focus on elucidating the mechanisms linking RA and anemia, conducting longitudinal studies to better understand these associations over time, and evaluating the effectiveness of anemia treatments in improving patient health.”

Abstract/Full Text