Risk Factors

Although nutritional iron-deficiency anemia has declined in industrialized nations, it affects an estimated 2 billion people worldwide. Even in the US, iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency. It is highly associated with poverty, people in lower socioeconomic groups having double the risk of those who are middle or upper class.

Among Americans with iron deficiency anemia, young children have the highest risk followed by premenopausal women. Adolescent and adult men and postmenopausal women have the lowest risk. Men, in fact, are at risk for iron overload, probably because of their higher meat intake.

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General Risk Factors for Anemia in Infants and Children. Up to 20% of American children and 80% of children in developing countries become anemic at some point during their childhood and adolescence. Iron deficiency is the most common cause in children, but other forms of anemia, including hereditary blood disorders, can also cause anemia in this population. African American children have the highest rates of anemia (about 25%) while other ethnic groups have an incidence under 20%.

Iron deficiency affects about 9% of children younger than 2 years and about 3% of children in this age groups are anemic as a result. Children in lower-income homes are at higher risk than those in higher income homes. In a study of low-income children, ages 6 months to 5 years, the prevalence of anemia was over 10%, and was nearly 18% in children younger than 2 years. However, that children in any income group can develop iron deficiency.

Young children 9 -18 months have the highest risk for iron deficiency anemia in the US. Such children also are at great risk for problems in mental development from anemia. Infant boys may have 10 times more risk than baby girls. In general, full-term infants who are breastfed by their mothers are born with sufficient iron stores for about 6 months. After that, they must rely on other sources for iron.

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