Who Is At Risk for Anemia?

Populations Affected

Anemia is a common condition. More than 3 million people in the United States have anemia, and it occurs in all age groups and in all racial and ethnic groups. Both men and women can have anemia; however, women of childbearing age are more at risk for anemia than men. Women in this age range lose blood from menstruation and childbirth.

During pregnancy, anemia can develop due to deficiencies of iron and folate and from a change in the concentration of blood. During the first 6 months of pregnancy, the fluid portion (plasma) of a woman’s blood increases faster than the number of red blood cells, diluting the blood and causing the hematocrit level to fall.

Older adults who have other medical conditions and infants younger than 2 years also are at increased risk for anemia.

Major Risk Factors

Factors that increase the risk of anemia include:

• Poor or inadequate diets that are low in iron, vitamins, and minerals
• Blood loss from surgery or injury
• Chronic or serious illnesses, such as kidney disease, cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS, inflammatory bowel disease (including Crohn’s disease), liver disease, and thyroid disease
• Chronic infections
• Family history of inherited anemia, such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia