Prevalence of Aplastic Anemia Among Adult Patients with Anemia

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the demographic and hematological characteristics of adults presenting with anemia versus those without aplastic anemia and to support timely clinical recognition and management.

Study Design: A Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the General Medicine Department, Sandeman Provincial Hospital / Bolan Medical Complex Hospital Quetta from June 2025 to August 2025.

Methods: One hundred adult patients with anemia were enrolled in a cross-sectional study at a tertiary care hospital. These patients underwent a detailed assessment and laboratory testing, including a complete blood count, reticulocyte count, and peripheral blood smear. Patients with peripheral blood smears showing a reticulocyte count. We're working up with anemia and bone marrow aspirations. Aplastic anemia was diagnosed according to Camitta criteria. Data were collected, including demographics, hematological, and clinical variables. SPSS version 24 was used to perform statistical analyses of these variables, and inter-group differences in cases were assessed using chi- square tests and independent t-tests between aplastic and non-aplastic anemia.

Results: The 100 participants (mean age 42.8 ± 13.6 years; 54% male), the incidence of aplastic anemia was 12%. Anemia was commonly accompanied with, fatigue (83% of cases), infections (58%), and bleeding (42%).
Pancytopenia was significantly more prevalent in cases of aplastic anemia (92) compared to non-18 cases; (p <0.001). Hemoglobin levels (6.1 ± 0.9 g/dL vs. 8.4 ± 1.2 g/dL; p <0.001), and the count of platelets and neutrophils
was significantly lower within the aplastic group. When looking at the severity, 50% were categorized as severe, 33% fall into the very severe category, and 17% were indicated as non-severe.

Conclusion: A significant proportion of adult anemia cases are due to aplastic anemia with severe cytopenias. This demonstrates the need for prompt diagnostic evaluations and timely bone marrow assessments.