What is referred to as the form of anemia that occurs as a complication of another disease?

The form of anemia that occurs as a complication of another disease is known as secondary anemia. This type of anemia results from underlying health conditions, such as chronic infections, inflammatory diseases, nutrient deficiencies, or other diseases that affect the body's ability to produce adequate red blood cells. For instance, conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or chronic kidney disease can disrupt the normal production of red blood cells or lead to increased destruction of them, thereby causing secondary anemia.

The classification as secondary emphasizes its dependency on another illness, differentiating it from primary types of anemia, which originate directly from issues with red blood cell production or function without an obvious external influencing condition. This contextual understanding is essential in diagnosing and treating anemia effectively, as addressing the underlying disease often helps mitigate the anemia itself.

In contrast, chronic anemia refers to a long-term reduction in red blood cells but doesn’t inherently denote an underlying cause, while peripheral anemia typically relates to issues in the peripheral blood system. Macrocytic anemia specifically points to larger-than-normal red blood cells, which also does not directly denote being secondary to another disease.