From the Guidelines
Mild anemia is indicated by a hemoglobin level between 11.0-11.9 g/dL for women and 11.0-12.9 g/dL for men, as defined by the World Health Organization 1.
Key Laboratory Values
- Hemoglobin level: 11.0-11.9 g/dL for women and 11.0-12.9 g/dL for men
- Hematocrit: may be slightly decreased
- Red blood cell count: may be slightly decreased
- Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC): may be normal or altered depending on the type of anemia
- Reticulocyte count: may be normal or elevated
Diagnosis and Treatment
Mild anemia often causes minimal or no symptoms, but can be detected through routine blood tests. The underlying cause of anemia should be investigated, as it could be due to iron deficiency, chronic disease, vitamin deficiencies, or other conditions. Treatment depends on the cause and may include dietary changes, supplements, or addressing the underlying condition. According to a recent study, oral iron may be effective in patients with mild anemia, especially in those with clinically inactive disease and no previous intolerance to oral iron 1.
Important Considerations
- Iron deficiency and anemia are not synonymous, and it is possible for an individual to be iron deficient but not anemic, or vice versa 1
- Athletes, particularly female athletes, may be at higher risk for iron deficiency due to restrictive diets, high amounts of repetitive ground strikes, endurance training, and heavy menstrual bleeding 1
From the Research
Definition of Anemia
- Anemia is defined as hemoglobin (Hb) levels <12.0 g/dL in women and <13.0 g/dL in men, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2.
- However, normal Hb distribution varies not only with sex but also with ethnicity and physiological status.
Classification of Anemia
- Anemia can be categorized into micro-, normo- or macrocytic anemia based on the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 3.
- Microcytic anemia is defined as anemia with a mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of less than 80 mcm3 in adults 4.
- Normocytic anemia is anemia with a mean corpuscular volume of 80 to100 mcm3 5.
Mild Anemia
- Mild anemia is often defined by levels of Hb between 10-12 g/dL in both sexes, especially in the elderly population 2.
- In this population, anemia is mostly of mild degree and understanding the pathophysiology of anemia is important because it contributes to morbidity and mortality.
Laboratory Values
- Hemoglobin levels <12.0 g/dL in women and <13.0 g/dL in men indicate anemia 2.
- Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) values can help guide the differential diagnosis and evaluation of anemia 6, 3, 4, 5.
- Iron studies, reticulocyte count, the red blood cell distribution width index, and blood test results are used to make the diagnosis of anemia 6.