From the Guidelines
Initial education for anemia should include information about the condition itself, its causes, symptoms, and management strategies, with a focus on iron deficiency anemia, as it is a common cause of anemia, as recommended by the British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines 1. The education should cover the definition of anemia, which is a haemoglobin (Hb) concentration below the lower limit of normal for the relevant population and laboratory performing the test, as defined by the British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines 1. Patients should be taught that anemia is a condition where there are insufficient healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body's tissues, resulting in fatigue, weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, and headaches. Some key points to include in the education are:
- The importance of iron studies to confirm iron deficiency, with serum ferritin being the single most useful marker of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) 1
- The role of oral iron supplementation, such as ferrous sulfate, in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia, as recommended by the ESPEN guideline 1
- Dietary education to emphasize iron-rich foods and foods high in B12 and folate
- Potential medication side effects and strategies to manage these symptoms
- The importance of adherence to treatment, follow-up blood tests to monitor progress, and when to seek medical attention if symptoms worsen. Understanding the underlying physiology—that iron is essential for hemoglobin production which carries oxygen throughout the body—helps patients appreciate the importance of treatment adherence. The British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines provide a strong recommendation for the management of iron deficiency anemia, and should be used as the basis for initial education for anemia 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
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From the Research
Initial Education for Anemia
The initial education for anemia should include information on the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of the condition.
- The most common causes of iron deficiency anemia are bleeding (menstrual, gastrointestinal), impaired iron absorption (atrophic gastritis, celiac disease, bariatric surgical procedures), inadequate dietary iron intake, and pregnancy 2.
- Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia may include fatigue, irritability, depression, difficulty concentrating, restless legs syndrome, pica, dyspnea, lightheadedness, exercise intolerance, and worsening heart failure 2.
- Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is typically made through laboratory tests, including a complete blood cell count, serum ferritin, and transferrin saturation 2, 3, 4.
- Treatment for iron deficiency anemia usually involves oral iron supplementation, with intravenous iron used in cases where oral iron is not effective or contraindicated 2, 5, 4.
Special Considerations
- In infants and children, anemia is often caused by nutritional iron deficiency, but can also be due to genetic hemoglobin disorders, blood loss, infections, and other diseases 5.
- Screening for anemia is recommended for all children before 1 year of age, and for pregnant women during the second and third trimesters 2, 5.
- Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency can also cause anemia, and laboratory tests should be performed to diagnose and differentiate these conditions 3, 6.
- Treatment of iron deficiency anemia can increase levels of vitamin B12 and folate, and may also affect other metabolic pathways 6.