STUDY OF RED CELL INDICES AND RETICULOCYTE COUNT IN PERSON WITH ANEMIA AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF KATHMANDU

Abstract

Anemia is not a disease but a clinical feature of some other underlying problems. It is one of the mostcommon public health problems in developing countries. The prevalence of anemia differs according tothe age group. A cross sectional observational study was conducted in a tertiary hospital, over a period ofsix months (January 2018 to June 2018). All the cases of anemia in different age group with hematologicalinvestigations (hemoglobin and red blood cell indices) including reticulocyte count during the studyperiod were included. A total of 274 blood samples of persons with anemia were evaluated. The mean ageof the patients was 41.4 ± 25.37 years. Anemia was more commonly seen in females (68.2%) than males(31.8%) in our study. The most affected age group for anemia was person ≥ 15 years followed by children< 5 years. The least affected group was children of 12- 14 years. Microcytic anemia (decreased MCV anddecreased MCHC) was observed in children of 12- 14 years and macrocytic anemia (increased MCV) wasseen in group ≥ 15 years. Red cell distribution width (RDW) was more elevated in children of 12 -14 yearsand showed that there was significant variation of size of RBC in this group. Reticulocyte count was higherin children < 5 years and lower in children of 12- 14 years. Significant correlation was noted for hematocrit
and reticulocyte count. This study revealed that the prevalence of anemia increases with age and wasmore common in females. Baseline study of red blood cell indices and reticulocyte count will help us indiagnosing the type of anemia and in further management.

Keywords  : Anemia, hemoglobin, hematocrit,red cell indices, reticulocyte