Introduction: Anemia remains a major challenge in medical care, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate anemia in the Internal Medicine Department of the Borgou-Alibori Departmental University Hospital Center (CHUD/BA) in 2025. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with an analytical component and prospective data collection conducted from January 1 to August 31, 2025. The study population consisted of adult patients hospitalized in the Internal Medicine Department of CHUD/BA who provided informed consent, either personally or through a relative. Anemia was the dependent variable. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with anemia. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 369 patients were included, with a mean age of 44.81 ± 16.98 years and a male predominance (56.91%). The prevalence of anemia was 72.63%. Anemia was moderate and microcytic in 57.46% and 42.91% of cases, respectively. Infectious causes accounted for 54.10% of anemia cases, predominantly bacterial infections. Among non-infectious causes, chronic kidney disease and solid malignant tumors were the most frequent, representing 53.66% and 30.08%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, factors independently associated with anemia were asthenia, conjunctival pallor, melena, and malnutrition. Conclusion: The majority of patients hospitalized in the Internal Medicine Department in Parakou were anemic. The causes of anemia were multiple and heterogeneous.
References
[1]
Alsaeed, M., Ahmed, S.S., Seyadi, K., Ahmed, A.J., Alawi, A.S. and Abulsaad, K. (2022) The Prevalence and Impact of Anemia in Hospitalized Older Adults: A Single Center Experience from Bahrain. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, 17, 587-595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtumed.2022.02.003
[2]
Ayen, A.A., Tarekegn, G.Y., Moges, T.A., Yemata, G.A., Anteneh, R.M., Anberbr, S.S., et al. (2025) Magnitude and Determinants of Anemia among Patients at Garbo Primary Hospital, Somali Region of Ethiopia. Scientific Reports, 15, Article No. 28179. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07914-6
[3]
Nanko, D., Drissa, S., Brehima, B., Magara, S., Sogoba, S., Bakary, D., et al. (2023) Pattern of Anemia of Inpatients at the Internal Medicine Unit of the Fousseyni Daou Hospital of Kayes. Health Sciences and Disease, 24, 94-98.
[4]
Singh, A., Gupta, N. and Singh, S. (2025) Prevalence and Determinants of Anemia among Hospitalized Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 13, 1087-1093. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20250671
[5]
Obama, K., Kuroda, A., Kusumoto, A., Wakimaru, N., Yanamoto, H., Setoguchi, M., et al. (2026) Clinical Characteristics and Management of Anemia in Nonagenarians: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Cureus, 18, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.100583
[6]
Randi, M.L., Bertozzi, I., Santarossa, C., Cosi, E., Lucente, F., Bogoni, G., et al. (2020) Prevalence and Causes of Anemia in Hospitalized Patients: Impact on Diseases Outcome. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9, 950-958. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9040950
[7]
Endrias, E.E., Geta, T., Israel, E., Belayneh Yayeh, M., Ahmed, B. and Moloro, A.H. (2025) Prevalence and Determinants of Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Medicine, 12, Article 1529280. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2025.1529280
[8]
Ali, A. (2025) Prevalence of Anemia and Its Impact on Readmissions in Heart Failure with Reduced EF. Pakistan Journal of Medical and Cardiological Review, 4, 884-897.
[9]
Tegene, E., Mohammed, A., Godebo, T., Desu, G. and Tadasa, E. (2025) Prevalence of Anemia and Associated Factors in Patients with Heart Failure Admitted to Jimma University Medical Center. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 25, Article No. 253. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-025-04714-8
[10]
Dovonou, C.A., Alassani, A., Attinsounon, C.A., Ade, S., Sake, K., Degla, J., et al. (2018) Epidemiology of Anemia at the Internal Medicine Department in Borgou Departmental Hospital Center (DHC) in Parakou (Benin). Open Journal of Internal Medicine, 8, 123-130. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojim.2018.82013
[11]
Mehtab, E., Javed, A., Devi, D., Awan, R., Noureen, A. and Khan, A. (2025) Prevalence and Clinical Outcome of Anemia in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in Internal Medicine Settings. Pakistan Journal of Medicine and Dentistry, 14, 1-10.
[12]
Abaynew, Y., Ali, A., Taye, G. and Shenkut, M. (2023) Prevalence and Types of Anemia among People with Tuberculosis in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Scientific Reports, 13, Article No. 5385. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32609-1
[13]
Krishnapillai, A., Omar, M.A., Ariaratnam, S., Awaluddin, S., Sooryanarayana, R., Kiau, H.B., et al. (2022) The Prevalence of Anemia and Its Associated Factors among Older Persons: Findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19, Article 4983. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19094983
[14]
Akbarpour, E., Paridar, Y., Mohammadi, Z., Mard, A., Danehchin, L., Abolnezhadian, F., et al. (2022) Anemia Prevalence, Severity, Types, and Correlates among Adult Women and Men in a Multiethnic Iranian Population: The Khuzestan Comprehensive Health Study (KCHS). BMC Public Health, 22, Article No. 168. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12512-6
[15]
Aryal, D., Ghimire, M.R., Pandey, S., Paudel, D. and Gaire, A. (2023) Clinical Profile of Patients with Anemia in a Tertiary Care Hospital. Journal of Universal College of Medical Sciences, 11, 20-24. https://doi.org/10.3126/jucms.v11i02.57984
[16]
Ngouadjeu, E., Feutching, F., Nguemfo, E., Chetha, B., Adiogo, D. and Assob, J. (2022) Factors Associated with Anemia in Patients Aged 65 and More at the Douala General Hospital. Health Sciences and Disease, 23, 81-86.
[17]
Lohmror, A., Seervi, D., Yadav, M., Yadav, R. and Agarwal, M.K. (2023) Prevalence and Etiological Profile of Anemia in Hospitalized Geriatric Patients. Journal of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics, 19, 267-272. https://doi.org/10.4103/jiag.jiag_10_22
[18]
Youssoufa, S., Kimba, S., Diallo, B., Laoual, H., et al. (2025) Anemia in the Elderly: Experience of an Internal Medicine Department in Niger. European Scientific Journal, 21, 72-84.
[19]
Gara, H.K. and Vanamali, D.R. (2024) Etiological Patterns and Clinical Manifestations of Severe Anemia in Hospitalized Patients. Assam Journal of Internal Medicine, 14, 23-30. https://doi.org/10.4103/ajoim.ajoim_10_24
[20]
Haroon, M., Khan, J., Ullah, I., Umam, S., Khan, O. and Khan, E. (2026) Frequency, Types and Causes of Anaemia in Ischemic Stroke Patients Admitted to Medical Wards of Khyber Teaching Hospital. The Professional Medical Journal, 33, 7-11. https://doi.org/10.29309/tpmj/2026.33.01.8824
[21]
Yusuf, M.U., Abdurahman, N., Asmerom, H., Atsbaha, T., Alemu, A. and Weldegebreal, F. (2023) Prevalence and Associated Factors of Anemia among Hospital Admitted Patients in Eastern Ethiopia. Journal of Blood Medicine, 14, 575-588. https://doi.org/10.2147/jbm.s431047
[22]
Rahman, J., Saghir, T., Zaman, S., Idrees, M., Shakil, M. and Zada, S. (2025) Frequency of Anemia in Patients with Heart Failure Admitted to Cardiology Unit of Tertiary Care Hospital. Indus Journal of Bioscience Research, 3, 466-469. https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i6.1695
[23]
Soraci, L., de Vincentis, A., Aucella, F., Fabbietti, P., Corsonello, A., Arena, E., et al. (2024) Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Treatment of Anemia in Hospitalized Older Patients across Geriatric and Nephrological Settings in Italy. Scientific Reports, 14, Article No. 19721. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-70644-8
