The assessment of anemia in a clinical setting begins with careful history taking and a detailed physical examination. The patient’s medical history should include questions about history of anemia symptoms such as fatigue or malaise, bleeding (in particular, gastrointestinal or heavy menstrual bleeding), family history of genetic disorders, current medication use, living in or travel to malaria endemic areas or areas affected by other anemia-causing infectious diseases, and diet history.
Anemia prevalence in a population is determined by the percentage of individual cases below a recommended reference value of the hemoglobin (Hb) concentration. The primary method for assessing anemia is through measuring hemoglobin and comparing the value to set thresholds based on age, sex, and physiological status (pregnancy, lactation, etc.).
Hemoglobin concentration in the blood is measured either by automated hematological analyzers or portable devices that use the principles of spectrophotometry like the HemoCue Hb device (HemoCue®, Angelholm, Sweden).The best practices for anemia assessment include use of venous (or potentially pooled capillary blood) for hemoglobin analysis by an automated analyzer or point-of-care Hemocue® device and adjusting hemoglobin concentration for altitude and smoking status using the age- and sex-specific and physiologically-validated cutoffs recommended by the World Health Organization.
Among other preanalytical factors (temperature and humidity of the environment, posture of the patient, specimen transport and storage, etc.), the mode of blood collection (venous or capillary, single-drop, or pooled capillary blood) affects hemoglobin measurements in different contexts. Discrepancies in the determination of hemoglobin concentrations could have a substantial effect on the estimation of anemia prevalence, especially in population surveys.
We found 43 resource(s)
Evaluation of Hemoglobin Cutoff Levels to Define Anemia Among Healthy Individuals
Journal Article published by JAMA Netw Open in
This study uses cross-sectional data from 30 household, population-based nutrition surveys of preschool children aged 6 to 59 months and nonpregnant women aged 15 to 49 years across 25 countries to evaluate the current World Health Organization hemoglobin cutoffs for defining anemia among persons who are apparently healthy, and to assess threshold…
Anemia Prevalence and Anthropometric Status of Indigenous Women and Young Children in Rural Botswana: The San People
Journal Article published by Nutrients in
This study reports the results of a cross-sectional survey to assess the anemia prevalence among and anthropometric indices of women and young children belonging to the San People (also known as the Basarwa or Bushmen), an Indigenous minority group, in Ghanzi District in Botswana.
Use of the Electronic Health Record to Assess Prevalence of Anemia and Iron Deficiency in Pregnancy
Journal Article published by Journal of Nutrition in
This paper explores the use of electronic health records for surveillance of the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia during first-trimester pregnancies in the United States.
Comparing Hemoglobin Distributions Between Population-Based Surveys Matched by Country and Time
Journal Article published by BMC Public Health in
This study compares hemoglobin distributions from four pairs of nationally representative surveys measuring hemoglobin, matched by country and time from the Demographic and Health Survey Program and the Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anemia project.
The Co-Occurrence of Overweight and Micronutrient Deficiencies or Anemia Among Women of Reproductive Age In Malawi
Journal Article published by Journal of Nutrition in
Using data from nonpregnant women aged 15–49 years in the 2015–2016 Malawi Micronutrient Survey, this paper described the prevalence of double burden pf malnutrition (overweight and obesity, and anemia) among Malawian women
Measurement and Interpretation of Hemoglobin Concentration in Clinical and Field Settings: A Narrative Review
Literature Review published by Ann N Y Acad Sci in
This narrative review is to describe the basic principles, advantages, limitations, and quality control issues related to methods of hemoglobin measurement in clinical and field settings.
Use and Interpretation of Hemoglobin Concentrations for Assessing Anemia Status in Individuals and Populations: Results from a WHO Technical Meeting
Journal Article published by Ann N Y Acad Sci in
This editorial provides the background to the World Health Organization's project to review global guidelines for use and interpretation of hemoglobin concentrations in assessing anemia status in individuals and populations.
Genetic Variation Influencing Hemoglobin Levels and Risk for Anemia Across Populations
Journal Article published by Ann N Y Acad Sci in
This narrative review describes the underlying genetic factors that affect hemoglobin concentrations, their clinical relevance, and geographical distribution across populations around the globe.
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