Prevalence of Anemia and Iron Deficiency in Women of Reproductive Age in Cuba and Associated Factors

Gisela María Pita-Rodríguez (), Beatriz Basabe-Tuero, María Elena Díaz-Sánchez, Karen Alfonso-Sagué, Ana María Gómez Álvarez, Minerva Montero-Díaz, Sonia Valdés-Perdomo, Cristina Chávez-Chong, Ernesto Rodríguez-Martinez, Yoandry Díaz-Fuentes, Elisa Llera-Abreu, Ahindris Calzadilla-Cámbara and Israel Ríos-Castillo
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Gisela María Pita-Rodríguez: National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology (INHEM), Havana 10300, Cuba
Beatriz Basabe-Tuero: National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology (INHEM), Havana 10300, Cuba
María Elena Díaz-Sánchez: National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology (INHEM), Havana 10300, Cuba
Karen Alfonso-Sagué: National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology (INHEM), Havana 10300, Cuba
Ana María Gómez Álvarez: Department of Physiology Science, Latin American School of Medicine, Havana 11600, Cuba
Minerva Montero-Díaz: Institute of Cybernetics, Mathematics and Physics (ICIMAF), Havana 10400, Cuba
Sonia Valdés-Perdomo: National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology (INHEM), Havana 10300, Cuba
Cristina Chávez-Chong: Institute of Cybernetics, Mathematics and Physics (ICIMAF), Havana 10400, Cuba
Ernesto Rodríguez-Martinez: Institute of Cybernetics, Mathematics and Physics (ICIMAF), Havana 10400, Cuba
Yoandry Díaz-Fuentes: National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology (INHEM), Havana 10300, Cuba
Elisa Llera-Abreu: National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology (INHEM), Havana 10300, Cuba
Ahindris Calzadilla-Cámbara: National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology (INHEM), Havana 10300, Cuba
Israel Ríos-Castillo: Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Sub Regional Office in Mesoamerica, Panama City 0843-00006, Panama

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency in women of reproductive age and the association with inflammation, global overweight, adiposity, and menorrhagia. A sample design of women of reproductive age from the Eastern, Central, and Havana Regions was carried out. Biochemical determinations of hemoglobin, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptors, leukocytes, C-reactive protein, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, and homocysteine were performed. Serum ferritin was also adjusted by inflammation. Nutritional status was assessed, and menstrual characteristics were collected by survey. A total of 742 women were studied. The prevalence of anemia was 21.4%, iron storage deficiency at 16.0%, and erythropoietic dysfunction at 5.4%, with inflammation at 47.0% and elevated homocysteine at 18.6%. Global overweight was 46.2% and increased adiposity at 58.4%. Anemia is associated with iron deposition deficiency (OR = 3.023 (1.816–5.033)) and with erythropoietic deficiency (OR = 5.62 (3.03–10.39)), but not with inflammation, global overweight, and adiposity. Global overweight was found to be associated with inflammation (OR = 2.23 (1.41–3.53)). Anemia was associated with heavy menstrual bleeding (OR = 1.92 (1.34–2.76)). Homocysteine was associated with inflammation (OR = 2.05 (1.08–3.90)), but not with anemia. In conclusion, anemia in Cuba is classified as a moderate public health problem, but not iron deficiency. A high prevalence of overweight and obesity was found, associated with inflammation, but not with anemia or iron deficiency. Heavy menstrual bleeding is a factor associated with anemia.

Keywords: anemia; iron deficiency; inflammation; women of reproductive age; overweight and obesity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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