FREQUENCY OF FACTORS LEADING TO PANCYTOPENIA IN PATIENTS ADMITTED TO A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Introduction: Pancytopenia is a hematological disorder characterized by a simultaneous reduction in red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It results from various underlying conditions, including nutritional deficiencies, bone marrow suppression, hematological malignancies, infections, and autoimmune disorders. Objective: To identify the common causes, clinical presentations, and laboratory characteristics of pancytopenia in patients admitted to Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. Methodology: It was cross-sectional study, conducted over six months, including 101 newly diagnosed pancytopenia patients aged 13–75 years. Clinical assessments and laboratory tests were conducted to gather data, which were then analyzed statistically using IBM SPSS version 23. Results: The most common cause of pancytopenia was megaloblastic anemia (44.5%), followed by aplastic anemia (19.8%), hypersplenism (14.9%), and acute leukemia (11.9%). The most common clinical features were pallor (84.2%), generalized weakness (77.2%), and dyspnea (54.5%). Laboratory findings showed significantly low hemoglobin (7.8 ± 1.6 g/dL), leukocyte (2.5 ± 1.0 ×10⁹/L), and platelet counts (75 ± 25 ×10⁹/L). There was a notable correlation between the causes of pancytopenia and both age (p = 0.049) and BMI (p = 0.033). Conclusion: Nutritional deficiencies, particularly megaloblastic anemia, are the predominant cause of pancytopenia in our setting. Early identification and targeted interventions can improve patient outcomes.