The prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency in IBD outpatients in Scandinavia

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency (ID) among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the Scandinavian countries.

Material and methods: A cross-sectional study including 429 IBD patients from six centers in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Patients were screened for anemia and ID. Each center included ~5% of their IBD cohort. Patients were consecutively seen in the outpatient clinic, regardless of disease activity and whether the visits were scheduled or not.

Results: The overall prevalence of anemia was 19% (95% CI: 16-23%). The prevalence was higher among patients with Crohn's disease than among patients with ulcerative colitis (p = 0.01). The etiology of anemia was as follows: iron deficiency anemia (20%), anemia of chronic disease (12%), and both conditions (68%). Less than 5% had folate acid or vitamin B12 deficiency. ID was found in 35% (CI: 31-40%) of the patients.

Conclusions: Anemia was present in every fifth IBD patient and ID in every third IBD patient.