Prevalence of Anemia in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in Baghdad City: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with significant health implications. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anemia among patients with CKD in Baghdad, Iraq, and to identify associated clinical and laboratory parameters across different stages of CKD.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2024 to January 2025 in a private hospital in Baghdad. A total of 462 adult CKD patients were enrolled. Demographic data, medical history, and laboratory parameters were collected. Anemia was defined according to WHO criteria (hemoglobin <13 g/dL in males and <12 g/dL in females). CKD was staged according to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the CKD-EPI equation.

Results: The overall prevalence of anemia was 67.5% among CKD patients, with increasing rates corresponding to advancing CKD stages: 28.6% in stage 1, 43.7% in stage 2, 62.9% in stage 3, 86.3% in stage 4, and 94.7% in stage 5. Mean hemoglobin levels showed progressive decline with worsening kidney function (13.1±1.6 g/dL in stage 1 vs. 8.7±1.4 g/dL in stage 5, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis identified reduced eGFR, female gender, diabetes mellitus, and low transferrin saturation as independent predictors of anemia in CKD patients.

Conclusion: Anemia is highly prevalent among CKD patients in Baghdad, with rates that exceed some international reports. The strong association with declining renal function underscores the need for routine anemia screening, particularly in advanced stages of CKD. Targeted interventions focusing on high-risk groups may improve outcomes in this vulnerable population.