Iron Deficiency Day 2024 Iron is an extremely essential nutrient, participating in vital cellular processes and for the body to functional at optimal level. It is crucial and indispensable for every living cell and plays a major role in transporting oxygen around the body. Iron deficiency (ID) is one of the foremost contributors to disease burden around the world, predominantly affecting young children (mainly <5 years), premenopausal women and population groups from low and middle-income countries. Children and iron deficiency Iron deficiency among children is a widespread and common health issue, ranging in levels of severity from a mild deficiency to anaemia. If iron deficiency is left untreated, a child’s growth and development may be affected; and increases their vulnerability to infections. A 2022 systematic review investigated children and iron deficiency and the results found the global prevalence of iron deficiency to be 17.95%, with approximately 16% presenting with iron deficiency anaemia. Additional data, also from 2022, presented an iron deficiency anaemia incidence in industrialised countries of 20.1% for children aged 0-4 years of age and 5.9% for those aged 5-14 years. “Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency worldwide” 33% of non-pregnant women | 40% of pregnant women | 42% of children World Health Organization Anaemia Anaemia is only one of the many consequences resulting from being iron deficient. Over 1.2 billion people worldwide were diagnosed in 2016 with iron deficiency anaemia, and it is among the five highest causes of years lived with disability. Research also found that iron deficiency anaemia is the primary cause of years lived with disability among women across 35 countries. Please visit our anaemia webpage for additional information. Iron deficiency and your heart. Iron deficiency anaemia can cause a fast or abnormal heartbeat, which means the heart has to pump harder to ensure there is enough oxygen in the blood. This may lead to an enlarged heart or heart failure. Both iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia are included among the most commonly detected comorbidities in heart failure. While it is usually common that iron deficiency is linked with anaemia, they do not essentially coexist. Iron deficiency is significantly more prevalent in heart failure than anaemia, with a frequency of approximately 59%. In regards to acute heart failure, the occurrence of iron deficiency was higher in men (79%) compared to women (57%). References Iron Deficiency | World Heart Federation (world-heart-federation.org) Iron deficiency anemia - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic Iron deficiency in children: Prevention tips for parents - Mayo Clinic WHO guidance helps detect iron deficiency and protect brain development Alnuwaysir, R.I.S., Hoes, M.F., van Veldhuisen, D.J., van der Meer, P., & Beverborg, N.G. (2021). Iron deficiency in heart failure: mechanisms and pathophysiology. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(1), 125. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11010125. Gedfie, S., Getawa, S., & Melku, M. (2022). Prevalence and associated factors of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia among under-5 children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Global Pediatric Health, 9, 2333794-2333794X221110860. https://doi.org/10.1177/2333794X221110860 Moscheo, C. et al. (2022). New insights into iron deficiency anemia in children: A practical review. Metabolites, 12(4): 289. doi: 10.3390/metabo12040289.