Clinical presenting complaints and hemogram parameters of patients undergoing phlebotomy treatment in a tertiary hospital

The aim of this study was to identify clinically symptomatic patients undergoing therapeutic phlebotomy, to identify asymptomatic patients at risk due to signs of hyperviscosity, and to determine the rates of smoking in these patients. It was conducted on all patients who applied to the Internal Medicine and Family Medicine outpatient clinics of Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University Faculty of Medicine Training and Research Hospital and agreed to participate. Data were collected through a sociodemographic information form, a form containing questions evaluating the clinical complaints of the patients, and laboratory values. The mean age of the patients was 41.27±14.88 years. Most of the patients were referred by internal medicine (65.4%) and the reasons for admission were elevated blood with 34.6% and clinical complaints with 37.4%. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) increased with increasing age (p < .05). The most common complaints were fatigue (78.5%) and headache (70.1%). Hct and RDW (p < .001 and p < .001, respectively) values were higher in patients with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) use. The most common comorbidity was hypertension (HT), which was seen in 18 (16.8%) patients. Most of the patients (65.4%) were found to be smokers. The complaints of fatigue and sweating increased significantly with increasing age (p < .01, p < .001, respectively). As a result of our study, we observed a high rate of smoking in these patients. The most common complaints were fatigue and headache, respectively. The most common comorbidity was HT. Hct and RDW values were high even in patients using ASA. Different methodologic studies are needed in a larger patient population in primary care.