We examined the association between anemia and ischemic heart disease (IHD) risk in adults with hypertension in Thailand. A total of 14,744 participants were analyzed. The mean hemoglobin (Hb) level was 12.6 ± 1.8 g/dL, and 5,867 participants (39.8%) had anemia. During follow-up, 88 incident IHD cases were recorded, corresponding to an incidence of 6.0 per 1,000 persons. The adjusted risk ratio (aRR) for IHD corresponding to a one g/dL decrease in Hb level was 1.16 (95% confidence interval CI, 1.02–1.32). Compared with participants without anemia, those with mild and moderate-to-severe anemia were associated with increased IHD risk, with aRRs of 1.73 (95% CI 1.02–2.92) and 1.82 (95% CI 1.02–3.26), respectively. Participants with anemia had an aRR of 1.76 (95% CI 1.09–2.84) for IHD compared to those without. Considering anemia and hypertension control status, individuals with anemia and uncontrolled hypertension were observed to have a higher risk of IHD (aRR 1.98; 95% CI 1.02–3.82) compared to those with no anemia and controlled hypertension. Anemia is a significant, independent risk marker for IHD in Thai adults with hypertension. Screening for anemia could help identify a high-risk subgroup for more intensive cardiovascular monitoring.
Sakboonyarat et al. (2026) studied this question.