Iron deficiency anemia in reproductive-aged women: options for treatment and prevention

Abstract

Objective. To assess the frequency of iron deficiency states among reproductive-aged women and to consider the features of their prevention. Subjects and methods. The investigation enrolled 2401 reproductive-aged patients who came first to the Clinic of the Kuban State Medical University in 2019. The patients’ mean age was 36.71±6.32 years; the follow-up period was 36 months. Results. Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) were detected in 518 (21.6%) and 591 (15.9%) patients, respectively. At the same time, IDA was mild, moderate, and severe in 383 (15.9%); 202 (8.2%), and 6 (0.5%) patients, respectively. New-onset anemia was recorded in 70.3% of patients. A re-examination was carried out after 36 months, which involved 1917 patients (79.8% of the baseline patients). A total of 156 (8.1%) patients were diagnosed with mild and moderate (in 149 (7.7%) and 7 (0.3%) patients, respectively; latent iron deficiency was identified in 518 (21.6%) patients. At the same time, IDA was undetected in the patients who had followed the recommendations for prophylactic iron supplementation after reaching the target levels of serum hemoglobin and ferritin. Conclusion. An integrated approach that includes the informing of a patient about iron deficiency consequences, etiotropic and pathogenetic treatment, preventive drug use recommendations, and dynamic monitoring, assist in overcoming iron deficiency in reproductive-aged women.