Journal of Blood Medicine (Jan 2024)
Assessment of Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility and Its Determinants, and Comparison of Hematological Indices Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients on Follow-Up at Jimma Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia
Abstract
Zenebe Tujara,1 Wondu Reta,2 Eyasu Tadesse,2 Ifa Dereje,1 Mekonnen Tesfa1 1Department of Medicine, College of Health sciences, Salale University, Fiche, Oromia, Ethiopia; 2Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Zenebe Tujara, Tel +251-917796943, Email [email protected]: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases worldwide. Approximately 9.3% of the general population was estimated to have DM globally in 2019. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) in hyperglycemic patients is expected to increase and determine the rate of erythrocyte hemolysis.Purpose: This study aimed to assess erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) and its determinants and to compare hematological indices among T2DM patients on follow-up at the Jimma Medical Center (JMC), Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia.Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study involving 124 participants (each 62) of T2DM patients and controls was conducted from October to November 2020 using a structured questionnaire. 5 mL of venous blood was drawn to assess OF, complete blood count, and blood glucose levels. EOF was investigated using a series hypotonic solution of NaCl. The supernatant of the centrifuged sample was transferred to cuvette test tubes, and the hemolysis stage was read on a spectrophotometer. The collected data were coded and entered into Epi-data Version 3.1. The analysis was performed using SPSS Version 23.Results: Compared with non-diabetic controls, patients with T2DM had significantly increased EOF. FBG > 126mg/dl (AOR=7.741, 95% CI: 1.562– 38.360), PPBG > 200 mg/dl (AOR=7.576, 95% CI: 1.519– 37.791), RDW (AOR=4.558, 95% CI: 1.136– 18.284) were significantly associated with abnormal EOF. A statistically significant increase in total white blood cells and absolute neutrophil counts (P < 0.001) were observed in T2DM patients. From RBC indices, red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were significantly increased in T2DM patients (P < 0.001).Conclusion: This study suggests that EOF was greater in patients with T2DM than in non-diabetic controls and was determined by FBG, PPBG, and RDW. The study also demonstrated that hematological index alterations were higher in T2DM subjects than in non-diabetic controls.Keywords: diabetes, osmotic fragility, hematological indices, RBC
