Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA)

The definition of IDA is based on the presence of both anaemia and iron deficiency.

Common causes 

• Occult gastrointestinal (GI) blood loss.
• Malabsorption (eg , coeliac disease).
• Non-GI blood loss (eg , menorrhagia, blood donation).
• Inflammation.
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Some symptoms of IDA

• Weakness, fatigue.
• Shortness of breath.
• Dizziness and/or headache.
• Fast or irregular heartbeat.

Some signs of IDA

• Pallor of eyes, lips, skin and nails.
• Hair loss.
• Tachycardia, murmurs and heart failure (if anaemia severe)

Prevention

Choose iron rich foods such as beans, dark green leafy vegetables, seafood, red meat and poultry, pasta and peas.

Treatment of IDA

Dietary iron

Iron in the diet comes in two forms; haem iron (from animal derived foods) and non-haem iron (from plant derived foods).

IV iron preparations

1. Ferric carboxymaltose (Ferinject®)

2. Iron isomaltoside 1000, 10% (Monofer®)

3. Low molecular weight iron (III) dextran (Cosmofer®)

4. Iron sucrose (Venofer®)

5. Iron isomaltoside 1000, 5% (Diafer®)

NICE guidance Anaemia management in people with chronic kidney disease (CG114) (Feb 2011).

Use as an alternative to blood transfusion where appropriate. For more information visit:

NICE guidance Management of Iron Deficiency Anaemia
NICE guidance Anaemia – Iron Deficiency (2023)