DEVELOPING A SCREENING TOOL FOR IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA DETECTION IN WOMEN DURING REPRODUCTIVE years

Beth MACLEAN¹, Toby RICHARDS³, Jayne LIM¹, Jess FULLER¹, Riki WYLIE¹, Judie JOO¹, Annas AL-SHAREA¹, Jaahnavi CHEYYUR¹, Henry NG¹, Cory DUGAN²

¹School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
²School of Sports and Exercise Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
³Department of Surgery, University College London, London, United Kingdom

Introduction

Women are at an increased risk of developing an iron deficiency during their reproductive years. Iron deficiency can result in a plethora of non-specific symptoms, providing difficulties for early detection. We aimed to develop a non-invasive screening tool to identify women at risk of an iron deficiency.

Methods

Women aged 18 – 49 years were recruited from a shopping centre in Western Australia. Questionnaires captured relevant history on menstruation, diet, pregnancy, blood donation and any prior diagnosis or treatment for iron deficiency or anaemia. Finger prick testing was conducted to assess haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and a hand grip dynamometer measured grip strength.

Results

Of the 387 women, 45 (12%) were anaemic (Hb <120g/L) and 110 (28%) had symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). Mean age was 33.2 ±9.2years and mean Hb was 132.1 ±12.1g/L. In the past two years: 49% had a diagnosis of iron deficiency or anaemia; 49% had taken oral iron; and 21% had an intravenous iron infusion. Vegetarian diets were followed by 13%; 6% were regular blood donors; 47% had a previous pregnancy; these factors did not influence Hb.

Those with anaemia reported more periods in the past 12 months (11 ±2.4 vs 9.8 ±3.8, p=0.005). Linear regression analysis showed handgrip strength was associated with Hb (p=0.044, R2=0.008), furthermore, there was a greater prevalence of sarcopenia (grip strength <16kg) in the anaemic subgroup (4% vs 1%, p=0.038).

Conclusions

Hand grip strength and period frequency could be valuable for incorporation into an iron deficiency anaemia screening tool.