Diagnosing anemia: Challenges selecting methods, addressing underlying causes, and implementing actions at the public health level

Garcia-Casal, MN; Dary, O; Jefferds, ME; Pasricha, SR

Author(s): Garcia-Casal, MN; Dary, O; Jefferds, ME; Pasricha, SR;
Details: Publication Year 2023-06,Volume 1524,Issue #1,Page 37-50
Journal Title: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Abstract: Accurate and affordable tools for diagnosing anemia and its main determinants are essential for understanding the magnitude and distribution of the problem and the appropriate interventions needed for its timely prevention and treatment. The objective of this review is to address methods, equipment, and sample-related and quality control aspects of hemoglobin measurement for anemia diagnosis. Also, other iron-, infectious-, and genetic-related causes of anemia are addressed in individuals and populations. The best practice for hemoglobin determination is the use of venous blood, analyzed on automated hematology analyzers, with high-quality control measures in place. The importance of a correct anemia diagnosis is highlighted by the cost of a misdiagnosis. A false-negative diagnosis may result in missing out and not treating anemia, its causes, and its adverse effects. On the other hand, a false-positive diagnosis may result in the provision of unneeded treatment or referral for expensive laboratory tests to determine a cause of anemia, wasting valuable resources and risking causing harm. At the individual level, clinicians must understand the causes of absolute and functional anemia to diagnose and treat anemia at the clinical level. Actions toward anemia diagnosis and control at public health levels require global, regional, and country actions that should cover general and context-specific characteristics.
Publisher: WIley
Keywords: Humans; Anemia/diagnosis/therapy; Iron; Causality; Health Status; Hemoglobins/analysis; anemia; diagnosis; equipment; methods; samples
Research Division(s): Population Health And Immunity
PubMed ID: 37061792
Publisher's Version: https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14996
Open Access at Publisher's Site: https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14996
Terms of Use/Rights Notice: Refer to copyright notice on published article.

Creation Date: 2023-06-30 02:16:03

Last Modified: 2023-06-30 02:35:29