ABSTRACT
Background: Anemia is a serious public health problem as harmful as the epidemic of infectious disease, especially in developing countries like India. With both the problems occurring together in an individual, the development of complications due to diabetes is severe and much earlier. Aim of the study: To estimate the prevalence of anemia in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus and its role as a risk factor for the presence and the severity of diabetic retinopathy, in a population-based study. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in about 200 diabetic inpatients in Government Royapettah Hospital, Chennai over a period of 6 months to study the correlation between low hemoglobin and development of diabetic retinopathy. Results: Fundus examination in anemic group showed normal interpretation in 49 patients, NPDR in 40 patients and 11 had PDR. In the non-anemic group, 68 patients had normal fundus examination, 26 had NPDR and 6 had PDR. The number of patients having diabetic retinopathy was greater in the anemic group than in the non-anemic group. Conclusion: Thus this study showed a positive correlation between anemia and earlier development of diabetic retinopathy. Hence, treatment of anemia must also be considered as a routine entity at the time of diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.