2023-08-08 12:15:49
A new study reveals the true incidence of anemia globally.
The study, spanning three decades of global anemia data (1990-2021), has revealed a complex picture of how several key factors influence the differences between the incidence of anemia in men, the incidence in women, and the incidence in men. boys and girls. This study was carried out by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), based in Seattle, United States, and its collaborators.
The IHME is an independent global health research organization at the University of Washington (United States) that provides rigorous and comparative measurement of the world’s most important health problems and evaluates the strategies used to address them. IHME provides this information so that policy makers have the evidence they need to make data-informed decisions when deciding on the allocation of resources to improve population health.
“From this 30-year study, we know that the global anemia situation has improved, but large disparities still exist when geography, gender and age are taken into account,” explains study co-author Dr. Nick Kassebaum, head of the IHME Neonatal and Child Health team and professor of anesthesiology at the University of Washington. “We modeled 37 underlying causes of anemia. It is very important that clinicians treat these causes along with the anemia itself. We hope that they will use this data to design more comprehensive intervention and treatment plans, especially for the most vulnerable population: women of reproductive age, children and the elderly”.
Globally, in 2021, 31.2% of women had anemia compared to 17.5% of men. The gender difference was most pronounced during the reproductive years, from 15 to 49 years. In this age group, the prevalence of anemia in women was 33.7% compared to 11.3% in men.
“Over the years, a lot of work has been done to reduce anemia globally, but as a group, women and children have shown the least progress,” said Will Gardner, an IHME researcher and study co-author. “This is a complex situation that revolves around access to nutrition, socioeconomic status, unmet need for contraception, and the ability to identify and treat underlying causes of anemia. Our data show how one group, adult men, have benefited much more from the measures implemented than the group of women aged 15-49 and children under the age of 5. This highlights the need to adopt multi-sectoral approaches and enhance cultural awareness to ensure that women and children are not left behind.
Red blood cells from a patient affected by a form of anemia. (Photo: Janice Haney Carr/CDC/Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia/Jackie George/Beverly Sinclair)
Causes and impact of anemia
The main cause of anemia in 2021 was iron deficiency in the diet, which accounted for 66.2% of the total cases of anemia, affecting 825 million women and 444 million men worldwide. Insufficient iron intake may have been the most common cause of anemia, but many other problems also contribute significantly to anemia.
The research team found that gynecological disorders and maternal bleeding were major contributing factors to the burden of anemia among women of reproductive age. For children under 5 years of age, the main cause of anemia was dietary iron deficiency, but hemoglobinopathies, other infectious diseases, AIDS, and malaria were also important factors in geographic locations where these diseases are prevalent.
“Anemia manifests differently depending on the population group. In children, anemia can affect brain development and cognition, so early treatment and management are crucial. This could involve accessing high-quality, rich foods in nutrients and/or receive treatment for parasitic infections and malaria,” argues Dr. Theresa McHugh of the IHME. “For many young women and girls, there is an educational gap about menstrual blood loss, insufficient options to effectively manage menstrual problems in those who have them, and not enough knowledge about how to manage and/or reverse anemia when it occurs. We know that anemia can affect mental health because the associated weakness and fatigue can interfere with daily activities.”
Previous studies have shown that anemia is associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression, and higher rates of preterm birth, postpartum hemorrhage, low birth weight, short gestation, stillbirth, and infections for both the child and the mother.
Regions and risk
The study shows that sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia currently face the highest burden of anemia. In 2021, western sub-Saharan Africa (47.4%), South Asia (35.7%), and central sub-Saharan Africa (35.7%) had the highest prevalence of anemia. The regions with the lowest prevalence of anemia are Australasia (5.7%), Western Europe (6%) and North America (6.8%).
The countries with the highest burden of anemia were: Mali, Zambia and Togo. Each had an anemia burden greater than 50%.
The countries with the lowest burden of anemia were: Iceland, Norway and Monaco. Each had an anemia burden of less than 5%.
Regional variation in disease distribution was also reflected in the cause-specific burden of anemia. For example, AIDS was the second largest contributor to years lived with disability due to anemia in southern sub-Saharan Africa. Anemia due to malaria was most prominent in the central, eastern, and western regions of sub-Saharan Africa.
El estudio se titula “Prevalence, years lived with disability, and trends in anaemia burden by severity and cause, 1990-2021: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021”. Y se ha publicado en la revista académica The Lancet Haematology. (Fuente: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation)
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