Assessment of hemoglobin status among cancer patients: a hospital based study

Background: Cancer related anemia (CRA) is a major healthcare issue among patients suffering with cancer. In the Indian context, these figures are likely to be higher due to the prevailing malnutrition and low socio-economic status in the general population. This observational hospital-based study has been conducted among cancer patients with following objectives to assess the socio demographic profile of different cancer patients admitted at hospital. To measure hemoglobin level among different cancer patients admitted at hospital on the basis of socio demographic profile and type of cancer. Methods: The registers maintained in the department of Radiotherapy were checked and those belonging to the year 2011-12 were used to process and analyse the cancer patient’s data in respect to age, type of cancer, hemoglobin level admitted in health care facility. Results: By far distribution of Hb level is concerned among all cancer patients, 87.56% patients were having Hb level more than 9 gm% and around 12.43 % patients were having Hb level less than 9 gm%. Majority of patients whose Hb level was less than 9gm% were belonging to age group more than 45 years. Conclusions: It is very much evident that anemia among cancer patients is a major healthcare problem and surely adds into morbidity and mortality of cancer patients. It may further aggravate the health condition of cancer patients if not corrected timely. Therefore, anemia among cancer patients should be taken and treated very seriously.