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Anemia among Men in Malaysia: A Population-Based Survey in 2019

Awaluddin SM 1 , Shahein NA 2 , Che Abdul Rahim N 3 , Mohd Zaki NA 4 , Nasaruddin NH 5 , Saminathan TA 6 Show all authors , Alias N 5 , Ganapathy SS 5 , Ahmad NA 7

Affiliations 

  • 1 Centre for Occupational Health Research, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam 40170, Malaysia
  • 2 Centre for Family Health Research, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam 40170, Malaysia
  • 3 Centre for Nutrition Epidemiology Research, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam 40170, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Dietetic & Food Service, Hospital Umum Sarawak, Kuching 93586, Malaysia
  • 5 Centre for Burden of Disease Research, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam 40170, Malaysia
  • 6 Centre for Non-Communicable Diseases Research, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam 40170, Malaysia
  • 7 Director Office, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam 40170, Malaysia
Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021 Oct 17;18(20).
PMID: 34682667 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010922

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anemia and factors associated with anemia among men in Malaysia. The researchers used data from the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS). The hemoglobin levels of men aged 15 years and above who gave their consent was measured using the HemoCue® Hb 201+ System©. The majority of them (87.2%) were men aged 15-59 years, referred to as the younger age group in this study. The prevalence of anemia among men was 12.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 10.9, 14.5). The prevalence was higher among older men (30.7%; 95% CI: 26.6, 35.1) than younger men (10.0%; 95% CI: 8.2, 12.2). Anemia among men was associated with older age (adjusted odds ratios (aOR) = 3.1; 95% CI: 2.1, 4.4) and those with diabetes (aOR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2, 2.1) via a logistic regression analysis. In conclusion, older men were more affected by anemia than younger men in this study. Anemia among older men in Malaysia is at the level of moderate to severe public health significance. The likelihood of developing anemia is increased among older men with diabetes compared to older men without diabetes. These often-overlooked issues among men need to be detected and treated early in order to prevent complications and improve their quality of life.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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