The Prevalence Change of Anemia in the Population Aged 10 Years or Older: 2005 and 2009

Kim, Soon Ki; Kang, Hee Sook; Lee, Ji Eun; Kwon, Young Se; Jun, Yong Hoon; Kim, Chul Soo; Kim, Young Taek

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Anemia still remains the most common hematologic disorder in the world despite improvements in general health and nutrition. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency in 'apparently' healthy Koreans aged over 10 years.
METHODS
We used the data of the 3rd and 4th Korea National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) which assessed 6,388 individuals in 2005 and 8,249 individuals in 2009. Anemia was defined in accordance with WHO criteria.
RESULTS
As for males, mean hemoglobin (Hb) concentration decreased with age after 50 years old. In the 2005 data, the prevalence of anemia in males was 0.6% in 10-14 years, 1.5% in 15-17 years, 9.2% in 15-17 years, 60-69 years and 17.1% in 70 years or older. The prevalence was not much different with the 2009 data. As for females, mean Hb concentration decreased after 70 years old. The prevalence of anemia in females was 6.7% in 10-14 years, 17.5% in 18-49 years, 11.8% in 60-69 y years, and 20.5% in 70 years or older, which were similar with the 2009 data. Although normocytic anemia was most common in both males and females, the proportion of macrocytosis increased with the age 70 years or older.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of anemia was high in women of reproductive age and in elderly persons, especially over 70. Considering the rapid increase in the older population, an intervention to prevent and to treat anemia looks imperative.