Prevalence of Severe Anemia (Hb ≤ 5 g/dl) in Non-Dialyzed Chronic Renal Failure Patients in the Nephrology and Hemodialysis Department of Point G University Hospital

Introduction: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is defined as glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 60 ml/min/1.73m2 for at least three (3) months. Anemia is one of its most common complications. Anemia increases the risk factor for cardiovascular mortality by 18% per gram of hemoglobin loss. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of this severe anemia, to determine the indications for transfusion, the complications related to this anemia, the evolution and the prognosis of these patients. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study with retrospective data collection over 18 months (January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018) that included hospitalized CRF patients. Were included, non-dialyzed chronic renal failure patients with Hb ≤ 5 g/dl hospitalized during the said period. Not included were chronic renal failure patients with an Hb level ≥ 5 g/dl, those followed up and/or hospitalized outside the study period. Results: Among 1176 patients, 26 had severe anemia (Hb level ≤ 5 g/dl) on CRF, a prevalence of 2.21%. The mean age was 40 years ± 32.62 with extremes of 15 and 67 years. Seventeen women and 9 men. The etiology of chronic renal failure (CRF) was hypertensive vascular nephropathy in 50% of cases. CRF was end-stage in 18 patients (69.2%). The mean hemoglobin level was 4.10 g/dl ± 0.64 with extremes of 2 and 5 g/dl. The anemia was microcytic hypochromic in 50% and aregenerative (96.2%). The main symptoms were asthenia in 20 cases (76.9%), dizziness in 20 cases (76.9%), exertional dyspnea in 19 cases (73.1%). Signs of cardiac decompensation (n = 12) were jugular turgor 10 cases (38.5%), hepato-jugular reflux 06 cases (23.1%), mitral insufficiency murmur 06 cases (23.1%). The main complication was left ventricular hypertrophy 17 cases (77.3%). There was no correlation between anemia and sex (p = 0.291), age (p = 0.778), malaria (p = 0.158), etiology of CRF (p = 0.26). The evolution after treatment of anemia was favorable in 19 patients (73.1%), unfavorable in 02 patients (7.7%) and 05 deaths (19.2%). The deaths were of cardiovascular cause: left ventricular insufficiency 04 cases, stroke 01 case. Conclusion: Anemia is frequent in patients with chronic renal failure and remains an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and poor general condition.