Factors associated with erythrocyte count and hemoglobin concentration
in men and women with type 2 diabetes
Introduction: The risk of developing anemia in diabetic patients is nearly 3-times higher than in non-diabetic patients. Aim: The aim was to assess factors that may affect both the erythrocyte count (RBC) and hemoglobin concentration (HGB) in type 2 diabetes patients. Material and methods: In type 2 diabetes patients (N = 80) and in control subjects with normal carbohydrate metabolism (N = 40) RBC and HGB were determined in whole blood collected in the EDTA-K3 tube. Results: The degree of metabolic compensation of diabetes, measured by the percentage of HbA1c, did not significantly affect RBC and HGB. In diabetic women, unlike men, there was no relationship between RBC and HGB and kidney function, measured with eGFR. Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers did not significantly affect RBC and HGB in these patients. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that in type 2 diabetes women variables that affect the RBC included: systolic BP, arrhythmias, taking fibrates. In the multivariate linear regression model variables that influence the HGB in type 2 diabetes women included systolic BP and fibrate treatment. In type 2 diabetes men a statistically significant model of multivariate linear regression for RBC was not obtained. In the multivariate linear regression model the variables that influence the HGB in type 2 diabetes men included: white blood cell count, age, obesity, and taking statins. Conclusions: In women with type 2 diabetes, the RBC is influenced by other factors (systolic BP, cardiac arrhythmias, fibrates and calcium antagonists) than in men (obesity and the use of oral antidiabetic agents). In type 2 diabetes women also other factors influence HGB (systolic BP, cardiac arrhythmias presence, fibrates, calcium antagonists and ACE inhibitors) than in type 2 diabetes men (hypertension, obesity, leukocyte count, age, proton pump inhibitors and statins medication).