Who Is At Risk for Iron-Deficiency Anemia?
The major risk factors for iron-deficiency anemia
are blood loss and a diet low in iron. Three of the highest risk groups are
women, young children, and adults with intestinal bleeding.
Populations Affected
Women
Women who lose a lot of blood during their monthly
periods are at higher risk of developing iron-deficiency anemia. About 1 in 5
women of childbearing age has iron-deficiency anemia.
Pregnant women need twice as much iron in their diet
than women who are not pregnant. If a pregnant woman doesn't get enough iron
for herself and the growing baby, she can develop iron-deficiency anemia. About
half of all pregnant women have this type of anemia.
Young Children
Infants and toddlers 6-24 months of age need a lot
of iron to grow and develop. The iron that full-term infants have stored in
their bodies is used up in the first 4-6 months of life. After that, infants
need to get iron from food or supplements. Premature and low-birth-weight
babies are at even greater risk for iron-deficiency anemia because they don't
have as much iron stored in their bodies.
Other children at risk for anemia are:
- Children with poor nutrition, including
low-income children
- Children with lead in their blood
- Infants fed cow's milk before 1 year of age
- Breastfed infants older than 4 months who are not
receiving iron-rich solid foods or iron supplements
Adults With Intestinal Bleeding
Adults who bleed in their intestinal tract are at
risk for iron-deficiency anemia. This includes people who have bleeding ulcers
or colon cancer. It also includes people who use medicines that can cause
intestinal bleeding (for example, aspirin).
Other Adults
Other adults who are at risk for iron-deficiency
anemia include those who are on kidney dialysis, vegetarians, and older adults
who have poor diets. |