The "Ferritin 2023" program to study population indicators of serum ferritin in women in the Moscow agglomeration (2023–2024)

• Nikolai I. Stuklov
• Maxim S. Kovalchuk
• Anna A. Gurkina
• Nikolay V. Varekha

Abstract

The article provides an overview of the significance of iron deficiency (ID) as a global problem, focusing on the importance and lack of study of this issue in Russian Federation, and a special role is given to describing the connection between iron deficiency and women’s reproductive health.

The aim of the work was to study serum ferritin (SF) levels in a population of female patients of different age groups in Moscow and the Moscow region to determine the frequency and severity of ID, the possibility and risks of primary prevention of anemia.

Material and methods. The study involved 1971 primary outpatients, of whom 1568 were of reproductive age. The distribution of these samples by age, frequency and severity of ID was studied.

Results. Based on the results of the work, it was concluded that in the total group, 66% of SF were below 40 μg/l, of which 80% were absolute ID (AID). In patients of reproductive age (80% of the total group of patients) at the initial visit to the doctor, the SF indicators were 25 (12; 48) μg/l, which is significantly lower than in the group over 45 years of age (p<0.01). The incidence of values ​​below 40 μg/L was 68%, of which 84% had clinically significant ID. The almost complete absence of cases of detection of excess iron (0.4%) in the studied group was proven.

Conclusion. Based on the results of the study and when comparing it with data from previous studies from 2021–2023, where outside the Moscow agglomeration the frequency of severe AID determined by researchers was significantly higher than in it (p=0.03), the data obtained allowed us to recommend routine primary iron supplementation for the considered group of patients of reproductive age throughout the Russian Federation.

Keywords:iron deficiency; female patients; reproductive age; ferritin; epidemiology; prevention; treatment

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