Prevalence of Anemia among Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients Treated with Imatinib: A Evidence-based Meta-analysis

Background: Imatinib is one of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. The exact association of imatinib with anemia in CML patients is still unclear. Aim: The current study aimed to find the prevalence of anemia in chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with imatinib. Methods: The relevant articles were searched in PubMed, Google scholar, and Clinical trials registries till 31st July, 2021. The quality of the articles was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The prevalence rate with 95% CI was calculated using StatsDirect Statistical analysis software V.3. Results: A total of 18 studies containing 3537 patients were found relevant for the analysis. The pooled prevalence of anemia in CML was found to be 34% (95% CI: 23%-46%). However, the heterogeneity among studies was found to be high. Conclusion: The monitoring of hemoglobin levels and identifying the cause of anemia are major concerns for the CML patients treated with Imatinib.