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Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to determine the frequency of anemia in undergraduate dental students and the relationship between hemoglobin level and body mass index (BMI) in dental students.
METHODOLOGY
A cross-sectional study was conducted at a dental college in Peshawar. with 370 out of 400 students participating after ethical approval. Questionnaires were distributed, and consent was obtained for hemoglobin testing. Students with blood disorders, cardiovascular issues, or eating disorders were excluded. Five milliliters of venous blood were collected under aseptic conditions for a complete blood count using an automatic analyzer. Height and weight were measured to calculate BMI (BMI = weight (kg) / height (m²)). Participants were classified into anemic and non-anemic groups based on WHO guidelines. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 24, employing Pearson correlation to explore the relationship between anemia and BMI.
RESULTSAmong the students (n=370) who took part in our research, 149 (40.2%) were male, and 221 (59.8%) were female.  Among them, only 6 (4%) male and 181 (81.9%) female students were anemic. The mean hemoglobin value in males was 13.38 gm/dl (± 1.70); in females, it was 11.75 gm/dl (± 1.15). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a hemoglobin level of < 12 gram/deciliter is considered anemic. Of the female students, 94 (42.5%) were underweight. 127 female students, or 57.4% of the total, had a BMI that was within the healthy range. Not a single female student was obese. Thirteen (8.7%) male students were overweight, whereas 136 (91.2%) fell within the acceptable body mass index (BMI) range. No male student was underweight. The correlation between Hb and BMI was r=-0.49, P<0.001.
CONCLUSION
A strong negative correlation of hemoglobin level with body mass index was found. Anemia is more prevalent in females, which is of concern and must be addressed.