MacLean Beth, Fuller Jess, Lim Jayne, Dugan Cory, Richards Toby
School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
School of Sports and Exercise Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Br J Haematol. 2025 May;206(5):1479-1484. doi: 10.1111/bjh.20075. Epub 2025 Apr 9.
Heavy periods are a common cause of anaemia in women of reproductive age. We compare the prevalence of anaemia and heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) among women in the United Kingdom and Australia. Women aged 15-50 years were recruited through screening events conducted in the United Kingdom and Australia from 2016 to 2024. In these cross-sectional studies, self-report questionnaires screened for HMB and finger prick haemoglobin concentration (Hb) identified anaemia (Hb < 120 g/L). Of 1937 women (United Kingdom = 333, Australia = 1604), the mean age was 28.5 ± 9.2 years and 33.7% reported HMB. In the United Kingdom, the mean Hb was 129.2 ± 12.0 g/L and 19.2% were anaemic, of which 59.4% had HMB. In Australia, the mean Hb was higher (134.4 ± 12.2 g/L; p < 0.001), with fewer women being anaemic (9.7%; p < 0.001), and fewer anaemic women had HMB (30.3%; p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis found that women in the United Kingdom were at a greater risk of being anaemic (AOR: 2.144; 95%CI:1.545, 2.946; p < 0.001). HMB was more common in the United Kingdom (45.9% vs. 31.2%; p < 0.001). In Australia, 24.7% (299/1211) reported receiving intravenous iron; while those with prior intravenous iron treatment were less likely to be anaemic (AOR: 0.616; 95%CI: 0.372, 0.982; p = 0.0496). Women in the United Kingdom are more likely to have anaemia and HMB than women in Australia, with HMB presenting a greater risk for anaemia development in the United Kingdom.
月经过多是育龄期女性贫血的常见原因。我们比较了英国和澳大利亚女性中贫血和月经过多（HMB）的患病率。2016年至2024年期间，通过在英国和澳大利亚开展的筛查活动招募了15至50岁的女性。在这些横断面研究中，通过自我报告问卷筛查月经过多情况，并通过指尖采血检测血红蛋白浓度（Hb）来确定是否贫血（Hb < 120 g/L）。在1937名女性中（英国 = 333名，澳大利亚 = 1604名），平均年龄为28.5 ± 9.2岁，33.7% 的女性报告有月经过多情况。在英国，平均Hb为129.2 ± 12.0 g/L，19.2% 的女性贫血，其中59.4% 有月经过多情况。在澳大利亚，平均Hb更高（134.4 ± 12.2 g/L；p < 0.001），贫血女性较少（9.7%；p < 0.001），贫血且有月经过多情况的女性也较少（30.3%；p < 0.001）。逻辑回归分析发现，英国女性贫血风险更高（比值比：2.144；95% 置信区间：1.545, 2.946；p < 0.001）。月经过多在英国更为常见（45.9% 对 31.2%；p < 0.001）。在澳大利亚，24.7%（299/1211）的女性报告接受过静脉补铁治疗；而之前接受过静脉补铁治疗的女性贫血可能性较小（比值比：0.616；95% 置信区间：0.372, 0.982；p = 0.0496）。与澳大利亚女性相比，英国女性更易出现贫血和月经过多情况，且在英国月经过多是导致贫血的更大风险因素。
