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. 2015 Jul 31;12(8):9036-45.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph120809036.

Prevalence and Determinants of Anemia and Iron Deficiency in Kuwait

Sameer Al Zenki  1 , Husam Alomirah  2 , Suad Al Hooti  3 , Nawal Al Hamad  4 , Robert T Jackson  5 , Aravinda Rao  6 , Nasser Al Jahmah  7 , Ina'am Al Obaid  8 , Jameela Al Ghanim  9 , Mona Al Somaie  10 , Sahar Zaghloul  11 , Amani Al Othman  12
Affiliations

Prevalence and Determinants of Anemia and Iron Deficiency in Kuwait

Sameer Al Zenki et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency (ID) of a nationally representative sample of the Kuwait population. We also determined if anemia differed by socioeconomic status or by RBC folate and vitamins A and B12 levels. The subjects who were made up of 1830 males and females between the ages of 2 months to 86 years, were divided into the following age groups (0-5, 5-11, 12-14, 15-19, 20-49, ≥50 years). Results showed that the prevalence of anemia was 3% in adult males and 17% in females. The prevalence of ID varied according to age between 4% (≥50 years) and 21% (5-11 years) and 9% (12-14 years) and 23% (15-19 years), respectively, in males and females. The prevalence of anemia and ID was higher in females compared to males. Adults with normal ferritin level, but with low RBC folate and vitamins A and B12 levels had higher prevalence of anemia than those with normal RBC folate and vitamins A and B12 levels. This first nationally representative nutrition and health survey in Kuwait indicated that anemia and ID are prevalent and ID contributes significantly to anemia prevalence.

Keywords: RBC folate; epidemiology; public health; vitamin A.

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