Khaberni - A recent medical study has shown that newly discovered anemia in adults may be an early sign of cancerous tumors in the body.
The study was conducted by researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, who analyzed data from more than 190,000 people diagnosed with anemia for the first time, and an equivalent number of healthy individuals. It was found that within 18 months of being diagnosed with anemia, cancer was discovered in 6.2% of men and 2.8% of women with anemia, which is nearly twice the rate compared to those without anemia. The risk of death also increased among patients with reduced hemoglobin levels, especially in the first few months of follow-up.
Further analysis showed that the type of anemia also plays a role in this relationship. In cases where red blood cells were smaller in size, tumors were more frequently observed in the digestive system and blood-forming organs. Conversely, when red blood cells were larger, the mortality rate increased, although its association with cancer was less clear.
The researchers confirm that anemia may not be a disease in itself, but rather a sign of underlying illnesses, and routine blood tests used in medical practice can help identify patients who require more comprehensive medical examinations.
