Assessment of Iron Profile and Hematological Indices among Iron Deficiency Anemic Patients: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is commonly associated with changes in haematological indices and iron-status parameters. This pilot study evaluated these parameters across different degrees of anaemia severity.
Methods: A pilot cross-sectional study was conducted among 50 patients with physician-confirmed IDA attending the Department of General Medicine, Teerthanker Mahaveer Hospital and Research Centre, Moradabad, India. Participants were recruited consecutively and classified into mild (n=15), moderate (n=25), and severe (n=10) anaemia groups based on haemoglobin concentration. Complete blood count and iron-profile parameters were assessed. Between-group differences were evaluated using one-way ANOVA with eta-squared effect size, while Pearson’s correlation was used to examine associations between haematological and iron-status parameters.
Results: Significant differences were observed across severity groups for haemoglobin, RBC count, PCV, MCV, MCH, RDW, platelet count, serum iron, ferritin, TIBC, UIBC, transferrin and TSAT (P<0.001). Severe anaemia showed lower haemoglobin (6.73±0.44 g/dL), serum iron (27.69±8.09 µg/dL), ferritin (6.51±2.78) and TSAT (6.27±1.85%), with higher RDW, platelet count, TIBC, UIBC and transferrin. Haemoglobin correlated positively with ferritin (r=0.75) and negatively with UIBC (r=−0.72; both P<0.001).
Conclusion: Increasing IDA severity was associated with progressive deterioration of haematological indices and iron availability. Combined assessment of CBC and iron-profile parameters may provide a comprehensive laboratory assessment of IDA severity.