IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

Course overview

IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA IS THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF ANEMIA WORLDWIDE, WHICH RESULTS IN MICROCYTIC AND HYPOCHROMIC RED CELLS ON THE PERIPHERAL SMEAR. THE PATIENT OFTEN WILL HAVE NONSPECIFIC COMPLAINTS SUCH AS FATIGUE AND DYSPNEA ON EXERTION. PATIENTS WITH IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA HAVE BEEN FOUND TO HAVE A LONGER HOSPITAL STAY, ALONG WITH A HIGHER NUMBER OF ADVERSE EVENTS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE CAUSES AND PRESENTATION OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE PATIENTS.