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Iron deficiency anemia risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Jogeet Singh Sekhon, M.D. [2]

Overview

Risk of iron deficiency anemia is more in those individuals who consume less iron in diet and who are at increased risk of bleeding.

Risk Factors

Common risk factors[1][2]

  • Women of childbearing age.
  • Pregnant women.
  • People with poor diets.
  • People who donate blood frequently.
  • Infants and children, especially those born prematurely or experiencing a growth spurt.
  • Vegetarians who don’t replace meat with another iron-rich food.
  • Infants who drink cow’s milk rather than breast milk or iron-fortified formula.

References

  1. Camaschella C (2015). “Iron deficiency: new insights into diagnosis and treatment”. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2015: 8–13. doi:10.1182/asheducation-2015.1.8. PMID 26637694.
  2. Lopez A, Cacoub P, Macdougall IC, Peyrin-Biroulet L (2016). “Iron deficiency anaemia”. Lancet. 387 (10021): 907–16. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60865-0. PMID 26314490.

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