Profiling anemia severity and its determinants in elective SICU patients using ordinal logistic regression

In surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients, anemia is common but often overlooked, leading to poor oxygen delivery, delayed healing, increased complications, and prolonged hospital stays. To promote prompt action and improve surgical outcomes, early evaluation of the severity of anemia and its contributing factors is essential. To determine the variables linked to the degree of anemia in patients admitted for elective surgery at Tikur-Anbessa Specialized Hospital between December 2019 and December 2022. A retrospective cohort analysis involving 423 patients admitted to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit was conducted at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Clinical and demographic information was extracted from patient records, and ordinal logistic regression in SPSS version 27 was used to examine factors related to the severity of anemia. 69.9% of SICU patients had anemia, with mild, moderate, and severe anemia accounting for 32.6%, 24.5%, and 12.8% of cases, respectively. Significant associations were observed between the severity of anemia and various factors: age (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.9–3.6), length of stay in the intensive care unit (AOR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.2–4.4), major surgery (AOR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.9–4.7), blood transfusion (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI: 2.02–4.91), and being on mechanical ventilator (AOR = 5.1; 95% CI: 3.01–8.61). : Anemia is a significant concern for patients in surgical intensive care units, influenced by factors such as advanced age, major surgeries, prolonged ICU stays, frequent transfusions, and being on mechanical ventilator. For critically ill surgical patients, early prevention is crucial for mitigating the severity of anemia and improving outcomes.