Anemia and alcoholism in patients treated in the Internal Medicine Service

Authors

Keywords:

anemia, alcoholism, alcoholic patient, clinical characteristics

Abstract

Introduction: Alcoholism is a chronic behavioral disorder characterized by repeated and excessive alcohol consumption; it is a direct and indirect cause of various types of anemia in these patients. Objective: To characterize alcoholic patients with anemia admitted to the Internal Medicine Ward. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 55 alcoholic patients with anemia in the Internal Medicine Wards of the "26 de diciembre" Hospital, Remedios, Villa Clara Province, between September 2020 and December 2022. Data were collected through documentary analysis of individual medical records and interviews. Results: The 50-59 age group was the most represented. The majority had a history of alcohol consumption of more than 15 years, with approximately 40% consuming alcohol daily. Rum was the most frequently consumed alcoholic beverage. There were 18 patients with macrocytic/normochromic anemia and 14 with normocytic/normochromic anemia. Mild anemia was the most frequent. Most patients presented with chronic anemia; the most frequent causes were erosive gastritis and vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies. Conclusions: The alcoholic patients were long-term daily rum consumers and suffered from acute and chronic digestive diseases (anemia being the main cause of these).      

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Author Biographies

Lázaro Rafael Rodríguez Cabrera, Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine, Havana, Cuba

Specialist in Internal Medicine. Infectious Diseases Department, Internal Medicine

Marta María Pérez de Alejo Rodríguez, "Arnaldo Milian Castro" University Clinical Surgical Hospital, Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba

Second-Degree Specialist in Internal Medicine. Assistant Professor. Internal Medicine Department

Raúl Rodríguez Consuegra, University Polyclinic “Captain Roberto Fleites”, Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba

Specialist in Internal Medicine. Internal Medicine Service

 

Ailyn Machado Sosa, "Arnaldo Milian Castro" University Clinical Surgical Hospital, Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba

Nephrology Specialist. Nephrology Department

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Published

2026-02-01

How to Cite

1.
Rodríguez Cabrera LR, Pérez de Alejo Rodríguez MM, Rodríguez Consuegra R, Machado Sosa A. Anemia and alcoholism in patients treated in the Internal Medicine Service. Acta Méd Centro [Internet]. 2026 Feb. 1 [cited 2026 Feb. 2];20:e2244. Available from: https://revactamedicacentro.sld.cu/index.php/amc/article/view/2244

Issue

Vol. 20 (2026): PUBLICACIÓN CONTINUA

Section

Original Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Lázaro Rafael Rodríguez Cabrera

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