Iron Deficiency: Global Prevalence and Consequences
Open Access
- 1 October 2003
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Food and Nutrition Bulletin
- Vol. 24 (4_suppl2), S99-S103
- https://doi.org/10.1177/15648265030244s206
Abstract
Iron deficiency is considered to be one of most prevalent forms of malnutrition, yet there has been a lack of consensus about the nature and magnitude of the health consequences of iron deficiency in populations. This paper presents new estimates of the public health importance of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA), which were made as part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2000 project. Iron deficiency is considered to contribute to death and disability as a risk factor for maternal and perinatal mortality, and also through its direct contributions to cognitive impairment, decreased work productivity, and death from severe anemia. Based on meta-analysis of observational studies, mortality risk estimates for maternal and perinatal mortality are calculated as the decreased risk in mortality for each 1 g/dl increase in mean pregnancy hemoglobin concentration. On average, globally, 50% of the anemia is assumed to be attributable to iron deficiency. Globally, iron deficiency ranks number 9 among 26 risk factors included in the GBD 2000, and accounts for 841,000 deaths and 35,057,000 disability-adjusted life years lost. Africa and parts of Asia bear 71% of the global mortality burden and 65% of the disability-adjusted life years lost, whereas North America bears 1.4% of the global burden. There is an urgent need to develop effective and sustainable interventions to control iron-deficiency anemia. This will likely not be achieved without substantial involvement of the private sector.Keywords
This publication has 17 references indexed in Scilit:
- Effect of Iron-Deficiency Anemia on Cognitive Skills and Neuromaturation in Infancy and ChildhoodFood and Nutrition Bulletin, 2003
- Effect of iron supplementation on incidence of infectious illness in children: systematic reviewBMJ, 2002
- Selected major risk factors and global and regional burden of diseaseThe Lancet, 2002
- Effects of iron supplementation and anthelmintic treatment on motor and language development of preschool children in Zanzibar: double blind, placebo controlled studyBMJ, 2001
- Defining Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Public Health Terms: A Time for ReflectionJournal of Nutrition, 2001
- Iron Biology in Immune Function, Muscle Metabolism and Neuronal FunctioningJournal of Nutrition, 2001
- A Review of Studies on the Effect of Iron Deficiency on Cognitive Development in ChildrenJournal of Nutrition, 2001
- Iron Deficiency and Reduced Work Capacity: A Critical Review of the Research to Determine a Causal RelationshipJournal of Nutrition, 2001
- Commentary on “Evidence That Iron Deficiency Anemia Causes Reduced Work Capacity”Journal of Nutrition, 2001
- Reversal of developmental delays in iron-deficient anaemic infants treated with ironThe Lancet, 1993