A Critical Review of Iron Deficiency Anaemia

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause of anaemia worldwide, affecting an estimated 1.2 billion people, while iron deficiency contributes to nearly 50% of all anaemia cases globally. The burden is disproportionately higher in low- and middle-income countries, particularly among children under five years, adolescent girls, women of reproductive age, and pregnant women, where prevalence frequently exceeds 30–40%. This critical review synthesizes empirical evidence from published studies to evaluate the epidemiology, aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of IDA. Relevant peer-reviewed articles, clinical practice guidelines, and systematic reviews were critically appraised using evidence-based review methods. The findings identify inadequate dietary iron intake, chronic blood loss, parasitic infections, pregnancy, rapid growth, and malabsorption disorders as the predominant determinants of IDA across different populations. Evidence indicates that serum ferritin remains the most sensitive indicator of depleted iron stores, although inflammatory conditions may reduce its diagnostic specificity, necessitating complementary biomarkers such as transferrin saturation and soluble transferrin receptor. Oral iron supplementation remains the cornerstone of treatment, whereas intravenous iron therapy is recommended for patients with severe deficiency, intolerance to oral preparations, or impaired absorption. Preventive strategies, including food fortification, iron supplementation programmes, dietary diversification, deworming, malaria control, and routine screening of high-risk groups, have demonstrated significant reductions in disease burden. strengthening evidence-based clinical management alongside population-level public health interventions is essential for reducing the global prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia and improving health outcomes.

Keywords: Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Iron Metabolism, Epidemiology, Iron Supplementation, Public Health.