The burden of anaemia in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background: Anaemia (AN) is frequently associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and can negatively influence the quality of life of patients.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence and causes of AN in IBD.

Methods: We prospectively performed a one-year multicentre observational study including all IBD cases attending six Units. We also investigated patients' main serological parameters.

Results: The study population included 965 IBD patients (582 CD; 383 UC), of whom 142 were in-patients and 823 out-patients. AN was diagnosed in 134 out of 965 IBD patients (14%). No significant difference in AN prevalence was observed between CD and UC. The prevalence of AN was higher in the hospitalized IBD (26% in- vs. 11.7% out-patients; p<0.01; OR 2.2) and in active disease (CD: 34% active vs. 16% inactive; p<0.01; OR 2.1 - UC: 26% active vs. 19% inactive; p=0.03; OR 1.3). Iron deficiency was present in 72 patients (53.7%), AN of chronic diseases in 12 (8.2%), mixed type AN in 11 (8.2%), thalassemia in 9 (6.7%), and macrocytic AN in 8 (5.9%).

Conclusions: In Southern Italy, AN is common in IBD and is more frequent in active disease and hospitalized patients. Iron deficiency still remains the major cause of AN in IBD.