Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia Are Common Epidemiological Conditions in Saudi Arabia: Report of the National Epidemiological Survey

Tarek Owaidah; Nouf Al-Numair; Ayman Al-Suliman; Mohammed Zolaly; Rana Hasanato; Faisal Al Zahrani; Mohameed Albalawi; Layla Bashawri; Khawar Siddiqui; Faisal Alalaf; Abdulkareem Almomen; Muhammad Raihan Sajid

doi:10.1155/2020/6642568

Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia Are Common Epidemiological Conditions in Saudi Arabia: Report of the National Epidemiological Survey

Anemia. 2020 Dec 29:2020:6642568. doi: 10.1155/2020/6642568. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & RC, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia.
² Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Pediatric Hematology, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 12372, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Internal Medicine, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Department of Medical Genetics, Umm Al-Qura University Faculty of Medicine, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
⁹ Department of Pathology, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency worldwide. According to an estimate by the World Health Organization, up to 27% of the world's population experience iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Studies conducted in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, have suggested that IDA is the most common cause of anemia, especially among females. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of IDA and iron deficiency (ID) among apparently healthy young university students from four regions in Saudi Arabia. Students were asked to complete a simple survey questionnaire; blood samples were then collected and analyzed after obtaining informed consent. A total of 981 students completed the survey, with 11% of the participants reporting symptoms of anemia; 34% of participants were diagnosed with IDA and 6% reported a diagnosis of hemoglobinopathy. Blood analysis confirmed the prevalence of ID and IDA in 28.6% and 10.7% of the participants, respectively; those with ID and IDA were mostly females (88.5% and 94%, resp.). Thalassemia trait and sickle cell trait were detected in 1.3% and 7% of participants, respectively. Our findings from a national survey among young university in Saudi Arabia indicate a high prevalence of ID and IDA.