Table 2 Clinical and Laboratory presentations of study participants in relation to serum vitamin B ₁₂ levels

MMSE

Abnormal

118 (71.1)

48 (28.9)

1

Normal

82 (71.9)

32 (28.1)

0.96 (0.57-1.63)

0.878

Hyperpigmentation of knuckles

No

199 (71.6)

79 (28.4)

1

Yes

1 (50.0%)

1 (50.0%)

2.52 (0.16-40.77)

0.515

Joint position sense

Present

159 (71.3)

64 (28.7)

1

Absent

37 (75.5)

12 (24.5)

0.81 (0.40-1.64)

0.553

Not Sure

4 (50.0)

4 (50.0)

2.48 (0.60-10.24)

0.208

Vibration sense

Present

192 (73.3)

70 (26.7)

1

Absent

5 (41.7)

7 (58.3)

3.84 (1.18-12.49)

0.025

Not sure

3 (50.0)

3 (50.0)

2.74 (0.54-13.90)

0.223

Brisk knee jerks

Present

17 (60.7)

11 (39.3)

1

Absent

183 (72.6)

69 (27.4)

0.58 (0.26-1.31)

0.19

Absent ankle jerks

No

195 (71.7)

77 (28.3)

1

Yes

5 (62.5)

3 (37.5)

1.52 (0.35-6.51)

0.573

RBC haemoglobinisation

Normochromic

170 (73.3)

62 (26.7)

1

Hypochromic

22 (91.7)

2 (8.3)

0.25 (0.06-1.09)

0.065

Hyperchromic

5 (33.3)

10 (66.7)

5.48 (1.80-16.68)

0.003

Polychromasia

3 (33.3)

6 (66.7)

5.48 (1.33-22.60)

0.019

RBC size

Normocytic

171 (73.4)

62 (26.6)

1

Microcytic

22 (91.7)

2 (8.3)

0.25 (0.06-1.10)

0.066

Macrocytic

4 (28.6)

10 (71.4)

6.90 (2.09-22.79)

0.002

Anisocytosis

3 (33.3)

6 (66.7)

5.52 (1.34-22.73)

0.018

RBC shape

Normal

172 (73.8)

61 (26.2)

1

Target cells

20 (90.9)

2 (9.1)

0.28 (0.064-1.24)

0.094

Macroovalocytes

6 (26.1)

17 (73.9)

7.99 (3.01-21.19)

<0.0001

Hypersegmeted neutrophils

No

198 (71.5)

79 (28.5)

1

Yes

2 (66.7)

1 (33.3)

1.25 (0.11-14.01)

0.855

Haemoglobin g/dL

Mean ± SD

12.3 ± 1.79

12.5 ± 1.74

1.07 (0.93-1.25)

0.351

MCV (FL)

Mean ± SD

85.1 ± 8.5

89.96 ± 9.2

1.07 (1.03-1.10)

<0.0001