OBJECTIVES: to describe the frequency of anemia and iron deficiency anemia, using two cutoff points for hemoglobin concentration (Hb) as well as serum ferritin levels in women with low-risk pregnancies. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was carried out based on the database records of 318 pregnant women at the Instituto Materno Infantil Professor Fernando Figueira-IMIP, in the city of Recife, State of Pernambuco, Brazil, between May 2000 and June 2001. The frequency of anemia and/or iron deficiency anemia were determined using two Hb cutoff points (<11.0 and <10.5g/dL) in addition to serum ferritin levels. Data were analyzed using the Epi-Info 6.04b and Minitab v.14.2 software programs. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. RESULTS: the frequency of anemia (Hb<11.0g/dL) and the frequency of iron deficiency anemia (Hb<11.0g/dL; ferritin<12ng/mL) were 56.6% and 10.7%, respectively. When the Hb cutoff point was changed to 10.5g/dL, the frequency of anemia fell to 37.4% and the frequency of iron deficiency anemia to 7.9%. Higher serum ferritin levels were found in anemic patients than in non-anemic patients, regardless of the Hb cutoff point used. CONCLUSIONS: the frequency of anemia was acceptable, but the proportion of iron deficiency anemia was far lower than expected. Ferritin levels seemed to behave in a way that contradicts the theoretical literature on the subject.
Anemia; ferritins; Pregnancy
