The main causes of latent iron deficiency detected during outpatient visits

Iron deficiency is a condition in which there is an inadequate intake and absorption of iron, which is necessary for the production of hemoglobin, a protein that provides oxygen transportation to the body’s tissues. In 2019, the prevalence of iron deficiency worldwide was 23176.2 cases per 100.000 population. Anemia affects almost one in three people on the planet, which is a significant public health concern. The most common types of iron deficiency conditions include iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and latent iron deficiency (LID). Purpose of the study. To assess the frequency of detection of LID in outpatient practice. Material and methods. A retrospective analysis of medical documents of 164 patients who were observed in outpatient practice in 2021 was carried out. The inclusion criteria were: a decrease in the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin in a clinical blood test, as well as a serum ferritin level below 30 ng/ml. Patients with severe somatic pathology and oncological diseases were not included in the study. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, there were 102 (62.2%) patients with iron deficiency in the sample. Two groups were formed: the first group included patients with IDA, and the second group included patients with LID. We evaluated the gender, age, and causes of iron deficiency, as well as the relationship between these factors and the development of IDA and LID, in all patients included in the study. Results. The mean age of men with LDH was 40.1±9.3 years, women — 41.1±6.7 years. In the structure of iron-deficiency conditions (n=102), patients with IDA prevailed, which were 5.3 times more than with LID (χ2=22.2, p=0.001). There were more women with JAD than men, 84 (98.9%) and 2 (1.1%) respectively (χ2=49.5, p=0.001). The group of patients with LID also had more women (n=15; 93.8%) than men (n=1; 6.2%) (χ2=11.1, p=0.001). The causes of iron deficiency in men were hemorrhoids (n=2) and stomach ulcers (n=1). The most common cause of iron deficiency in women was gynecological diseases (n=24; 24.2%), diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (n=9; 9.1%), and kidney diseases (n=15; 15.2%). In 13 (13.1%) cases, women with iron deficiency had a combination of several diseases. In the remaining cases (n=23; 23.2%), the etiology of the disease was not established. Conclusion. The main risk factors for the development of LID are female gender, young and middle age. It is necessary to raise awareness among women about measures to prevent the development of iron deficiency, especially its latent forms.