In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open , researchers investigated how different ways of defining iron deficiency (ID) impact the prevalence estimates of this common disorder among women. Their results indicate that using higher serum ferritin (SF) thresholds significantly increases the diagnosis rate of ID, potentially leading to improved treatment and declines in related morbidity. Study: Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Using 3 Definitions Among Women in the US and Canada .
Image Credit: angellodeco/Shutterstock.com More than two billion people across the world, particularly children and young women, are affected by ID, which leads to various health issues, including fatigue, cold intolerance, epithelial and mucosal abnormalities, menstruation-related disturbances, pica, impaired muscular performance, and adverse outcomes related to pregnancy. Previous research on ID prevalence among women in the United States and Canada has been limited and varied.
Traditionally, ID diagnosis combines low serum iron levels, SF, and transferrin saturation (TS), but many studies use SF alone. The Hemochromatosis and Iron Overload Screening Study (HEIRS) defined ID using combined TS and SF criteria, while the World Health Organization (WHO) definition uses SF alone to diagnose ID. Another definition from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) sets a higher SF threshold for iron-deficient erythropoiesis (IDE).
This cross-sectional study compared ID prevalence in t.
