Iron deficiency affects many US adults even without anemia, heart failure, chronic kidney disease or current pregnancy, according to a nationally representative survey of 8,021 US adults. The researchers call for further studies to determine the optimal absolute screening strategy, as current screening recommendations “may miss 70% of iron deficiency cases among children and during pregnancy.” Iron deficiency is associated with restless leg syndrome, decreased physical capacity, impaired neurocognitive function, heart failure, all-cause mortality and other adverse outcomes independent of anemia.
