Blood Res.  2013 Mar;48(1):46-50. 10.5045/br.2013.48.1.46.

The prevalence and clinical characteristics of cancer among anemia patients treated at an outpatient clinic

• Kim SJ
• Ha SY
• Choi BM
• Lee MY
• Jin JY
• Yeom SJ
• Kim TW
• Kim YM
• Lee K

• KMID: 2270726
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5045/br.2013.48.1.46

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Anemia is the most common hematologic condition encountered in outpatient clinics. It is often overlooked because it is common among patients; however, anemia is one of the leading indicators of cancer. This study examined the prevalence and characteristics of cancer among anemia patients who visited an outpatient clinic.
METHODS
The data were collected by reviewing the records of an outpatient clinic from January 2007 to December 2011.
RESULTS
In total, 502 patients (52 males, 450 females) were diagnosed with anemia. Cancer prevalence among anemia patients was 5.57% (25.0%, men; 3.3%, women); further, the most frequently diagnosed cancer was colorectal cancer (22.5%), followed by advanced gastric cancer (16.1%), breast cancer (9.6%), myelodysplastic syndrome (9.6%), cervical cancer (6.4%), renal-cell carcinoma (6.4%), and thyroid cancer (6.4%). The prevalence of cancer was 4.1% in those aged 40-49 years, 4.2% in the subjects in their fifties, 8.0% in those in their sixties, 21.6% in those in their seventies, and 55.6% in those aged over 80 years. The cancer prevalence among iron deficiency anemia (IDA) patients was 6.18% (28.8%, men; 3.5%, women). The cancer prevalence in postmenopausal and premenopausal female IDA patients was 16.0% and 1.6%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Among anemia patients, male patients aged over 40 years and female patients aged over 60 years, along with postmenopausal female patients, were more likely to be diagnosed with cancer. Consequently, male IDA patients, and female patients aged over 60 years must be carefully evaluated for the possibility of malignancy.

Keyword

Anemia; Prevalence; Cancer; Outpatient clinic

MeSH Terms

Aged
Ambulatory Care Facilities
Anemia
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency
Breast Neoplasms
Colorectal Neoplasms
Female
Humans
Male
Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Outpatients
Prevalence
Stomach Neoplasms
Thyroid Neoplasms
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Prevalence of cancer among anemia patients by age groups.

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  Fig. 2 Relative frequency of malignancies among anemia patients. (Double primary tumor was AGC with bladder cancer). Abbreviations: CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia; CML, chronic myeloid leukemia; AGC, advanced gastric cancer; MM, multiple myeloma; RCC, renal cell cancer; MDS, myelodysplastic syndrome.

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  Fig. 3 Relative frequency of malignancies among female anemia patients. Abbreviations: MDS, myelodysplastic syndrome; AGC, advanced gastric cancer.

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