Open AccessPrevalence of iron deficiency in 62,685 women of seven race/ethnicity groups: The HEIRS Study
Author(s) -
James C. Barton,
Howard Wiener,
Ronald T. Acton,
Paul C. Adams,
John H. Eckfeldt,
Victor R. Gordeuk,
Emily Harris,
Christine E. McLaren,
Helen Harrison,
Gordon D. McLaren,
David M. Reboussin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0232125
Subject(s) - ethnic group , transferrin saturation , medicine , demography , pacific islanders , ferritin , young adult , cross sectional study , race (biology) , gerontology , serum ferritin , population , biology , botany , environmental health , pathology , sociology , anthropology
Background Few cross-sectional studies report iron deficiency (ID) prevalence in women of different race/ethnicity and ages in US or Canada. Materials and methods We evaluated screening observations on women who participated between 2001–2003 in a cross-sectional, primary care-based sample of adults ages ≥25 y whose observations were complete: race/ethnicity; age; transferrin saturation; serum ferritin; and HFE p.C282Y and p.H63D alleles. We defined ID using a stringent criterion: combined transferrin saturation <10% and serum ferritin <33.7 pmol/L (<15 μg/L). We compared ID prevalence in women of different race/ethnicity subgrouped by age and determined associations of p.C282Y and p.H63D to ID overall, and to ID in women ages 25–44 y with or without self-reported pregnancy. Results These 62,685 women included 27,079 whites, 17,272 blacks, 8,566 Hispanics, 7,615 Asians, 449 Pacific Islanders, 441 Native Americans, and 1,263 participants of other race/ethnicity. Proportions of women with ID were higher in Hispanics and blacks than whites and Asians. Prevalence of ID was significantly greater in women ages 25–54 y of all race/ethnicity groups than women ages ≥55 y of corresponding race/ethnicity. In women ages ≥55 y, ID prevalence did not differ significantly across race/ethnicity. p.C282Y and p.H63D prevalence did not differ significantly in women with or without ID, regardless of race/ethnicity, age subgroup, or pregnancy. Conclusions ID prevalence was greater in Hispanic and black than white and Asian women ages 25–54 y. p.C282Y and p.H63D prevalence did not differ significantly in women with or without ID, regardless of race/ethnicity, age subgroup, or pregnancy.