Alboueishi Asma A, Ebrahim Fawzi O, Dalyom Saber, Breem Mohamed, Haroush Warda, Alshileeb Sundus, Omran Faihaa, Elzagheid Adam
Department of Cell Biology and Cell Culture, Libyan Biotechnology Research Center, Tripoli, LBY.
Department of Genetic Engineering, Libyan Biotechnology Research Center, Tripoli, LBY.
Cureus. 2025 Feb 6;17(2):e78606. doi: 10.7759/cureus.78606. eCollection 2025 Feb.
Iron deficiency is primarily the cause of anemia, a major public health problem worldwide. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) and its risk factors in working men and women.
This cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2023. The study included employees of the Biotechnology Research Center in Tripoli, Libya, and their family members. The sample consisted of 67 male and 134 female participants aged 12-74 years. Each participant completed a questionnaire for sociodemographic data. Two blood samples were collected from each participant to analyze the iron profile and complete blood count. All the participants signed an informed consent form before enrollment. IDA was defined according to World Health Organization criteria. Lifestyle items that might be associated with iron deficiency were also investigated. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and a comparison of groups was made with an independent t-test, risk ratios, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
The mean age ± standard deviation of the study sample was 38.35 ± 13.97 years; 33% of the participants were men. The overall prevalence of IDA was 34% (95% CI, 32.3-35.6). Moreover, IDA prevalence was higher in women (44.78%; 95% CI, 43.1-45.3) than in men (13.43%; 95% CI, 12.2-14.0) (p< 0.001). There was a corresponding significant difference between the male and female participants in serum ferritin, serum iron, and total iron-binding capacity (p< 0.001). Age, marital status, residence, occupational status, dietary habits, and family history of IDA were the main risk factors (p < 0.001).
The prevalence of IDA was moderate and substantial among men (13.43%). It was particularly high among working women (44.78%). There were significant associations between IDA and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, including age, marital status, residence, occupational status, dietary habits, and family history of IDA.
缺铁是贫血的主要原因，贫血是全球一个主要的公共卫生问题。本研究旨在确定在职男性和女性中铁缺乏性贫血（IDA）的患病率及其危险因素。
本横断面研究于2023年6月至8月进行。研究对象包括利比亚的黎波里生物技术研究中心的员工及其家庭成员。样本包括67名年龄在12至74岁之间的男性和134名女性参与者。每位参与者都填写了一份关于社会人口学数据的问卷。从每位参与者采集两份血样，以分析铁指标和全血细胞计数。所有参与者在入组前均签署了知情同意书。IDA根据世界卫生组织标准定义。还调查了可能与缺铁相关的生活方式项目。计算描述性统计量，并采用独立t检验、风险比和95%置信区间（CI）对组间进行比较。
研究样本的平均年龄±标准差为38.35±13.97岁；33%的参与者为男性。IDA的总体患病率为34%（95%CI，32.3-35.6）。此外，女性的IDA患病率（44.78%；95%CI，43.1-45.3）高于男性（13.43%；95%CI，12.2-14.）（p<0.001）。男性和女性参与者在血清铁蛋白、血清铁和总铁结合力方面存在相应的显著差异（p<0.001）。年龄、婚姻状况、居住情况、职业状况、饮食习惯和IDA家族史是主要危险因素（p<0.001）。
IDA在男性中的患病率为中等程度且相当可观（13.43%）。在职业女性中尤其高（44.78%）。IDA与社会人口学和生活方式因素之间存在显著关联，包括年龄、婚姻状况、居住情况、职业状况、饮食习惯和IDA家族史。
