Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa.
Clin Chim Acta. 2016 Sep 1;460:240-5. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2016.06.019. Epub 2016 Jun 20.
Iron deficiency is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, can present with or without haematological changes and is a major cause of microcytic anaemia. In South Africa and Africa in general, there is a paucity of studies on the iron status of healthy adult non pregnant females and males >18years of age. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency in a healthy South African population.
A total of 651 healthy adults >18years were included in the study. Blood samples were taken for the determination of iron status, haematological and inflammatory parameters. A ferritin level of <30μg/L was used to define iron deficiency and these subjects were further divided into those with and without anaemia. Diet and menstrual history in females was further investigated.
Overall, the prevalence of anaemia was 12.6% and iron deficiency was found in 78% of anaemic subjects. The prevalence of iron deficiency was 39.8% in all participants and females and Black Africans had a very high prevalence of 56.6% and 50.7% respectively. Significant (p<0.05) differences were found in concentrations of ferritin, haemoglobin, iron, transferrin, transferrin saturation, MCV and MCH between the groups.
Anaemia is a minor health problem but a large proportion of subjects with iron deficiency do not present with anaemia. The prevalence of iron deficiency was high especially in females and Black African participants.
缺铁与重大发病率和死亡率相关，可能出现或不出现血液学变化，是小细胞性贫血的主要原因。在南非和整个非洲，关于健康的成年非妊娠女性和年龄>18 岁的男性的铁状态的研究很少。本研究旨在确定健康南非人群中铁缺乏的流行情况。
本研究共纳入 651 名年龄>18 岁的健康成年人。采集血液样本以确定铁状态、血液学和炎症参数。使用<30μg/L 的铁蛋白水平来定义铁缺乏症，这些患者进一步分为有贫血和无贫血。进一步调查女性的饮食和月经史。
总体而言，贫血的患病率为 12.6%，贫血患者中 78%存在铁缺乏症。所有参与者的铁缺乏症患病率为 39.8%，女性和黑人的患病率分别为 56.6%和 50.7%，非常高。各组之间铁蛋白、血红蛋白、铁、转铁蛋白、转铁蛋白饱和度、MCV 和 MCH 的浓度存在显著差异（p<0.05）。
贫血是一个较小的健康问题，但很大一部分铁缺乏症患者没有出现贫血。铁缺乏症的患病率很高，尤其是女性和黑人参与者。
