Epidemiology of anemia

Abstract: Anemia is a major global and public health problem, significant cause of illness and disability among working population, in rich and western countries, as well as in developing countries. It is necessary to determine the severity and type of anemia and the possible causes. Although iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common cause of anemias, the anemia is most often caused by gastrointestinal or gynecological conditions and diseases. It is important to detect populations under the increased risk for anemia (pregnancy, preschool children, women in reproductive age, the elderly) as well as groups of patients with chronic diseases, who are equally vulnerable(chronic renal failure, chronic heart failure, inflammatory diseases, malignant diseases). The treatment of anemia depends on the cause and underlying diseases. The recognition, diagnosis and treatment of anemia requires the collaboration between the general practicioners and different specialists in order to emphasize anemia as one of the underestimated public health problems worldwide, with a large socioeconomic burden.

Key words:
epidemiology, anemia, iron deficiency, prevalence, perioperative anemia, pregnancy