Association Between Diabetes and Anemia: Evidence From NHANES and the UK Biobank
Authors' conclusion
Diabetes was associated with several major types of anemia. Further studies are warranted to identify the mechanisms.
Study context
- Population
- Participants of the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (9,026) and the UK Biobank study (389,616)two cohorts
- Exposure
- Diagnosed diabetes vs normal glycemia
- Outcome
- Incident anemia (by hemoglobin levels or diagnosis records) in relation to diabetes; cross-sectional association with anemia (by hemoglobin)
- Follow-up
- Median 13.6 years (UKB)
Methodological detailsmultivariable logistic regression, multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression, two populations (NHANES and UK Biobank)
- Multivariable logistic regression
- Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression
- Two populations (NHANES and UK Biobank)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incident anemia by type (UKB) · median follow-up 13.6 years
Each group vs normal glycemiaEstimate (95% CI)
Diagnosed diabetes
aHR, iron deficiency anemia 3.05(2.90–3.21)
Diagnosed diabetes
aHR, anemia of chronic disease 3.02(2.51–3.63)
Diagnosed diabetes
aHR, vitamin B12 deficiency anemia 4.88(4.23–5.63)
- People who developed anemia
- 42,354
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Cross-sectional anemia, White people aged 40-69 years in U.S. and U.K.
- Adjusted odds of anemia with diagnosed diabetes vs normal glycemia
- two to four times higher
Original publication
Association Between Diabetes and Anemia: Evidence From NHANES and the UK Biobank. Diabetes Care. Published 21 March 2025. doi:10.
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