Incidence of Iron Deficiency, with and without Anaemia, in Women in General Practice

Abstract

SUMMARY The incidence of iron deficiency anaemia in 500 women in an urban general practice was found to be 8.2 per cent, 9.7 per cent in 402 ‘patients’ and 2 per cent in 98 symptomless volunteers (‘subjects’). Iron deficiency anaemia was diagnosed when the haemoglobin was less than 12 g. per 100 ml. and the saturation of the total iron binding capacity of the serum was less than 16 per cent. Women who had a haemoglobin of more than 12g. per 100 ml. but who had a saturation of the total iron binding capacity of less than 16 per cent, were considered to be ‘iron deficient without anaemia’. This state was found in 22.2 per cent of ‘patients’ and 16.3 per cent of ‘subjects’. There was no decrease in the incidence of iron deficiency following the menopause; indeed, iron deficiency with and without anaemia was slightly more common over the age of 40 years. While a higher incidence was seen in widows than in married or single women, this difference was not significant, nor were the differences in the social classes or ABO, blood groups.