Sex differences in Anaemia and its associated factors among Diabetes Mellitus in Southern Indian States

Anemia, a common accompaniment to diabetes is one of the major complications among diabetic patients manifesting due to renal insufficiency. However, the mechanism involved in exacerbating the risk of anemia among diabetic population is quite unclear. Moreover, the symptoms of diabetes and anemia are overlapping making it difficult to identify the presence of the disease. This study aimed to understand the sex differences in the prevalence of anemia among diabetic individuals in Southern Indian states. The study comprised diabetic individuals aged 15-49 years from the National Family Health Survey 2019-21. Bivariate and logistic regression analysis was done to identify the prevalence and factors affecting anemia among diabetic individuals. The prevalence of anemia was substantially higher among females with diabetes (51.6%) than for males with diabetes (15%). In the unadjusted model, the relative odds ratio (ROR) showed that the risk of anaemia among females with diabetes mellitus was 1.26 times higher than among males with diabetes mellitus. Further, in the model adjusted for background characteristics and behavioral factors, the risk of having anemia was 23% higher among diabetic females in comparison to their male counterparts. The high prevalence of anemia among diabetic population especially among women poses a serious public health burden. Proper identification of anemic individuals and screening them for diabetes at an early stage can help reduce the severity of complication. Maintaining glucose levels among diabetic population and improving awareness about potential risk of anemia and other complications will help reduce the burden.