Following this, additional testing is available to confirm the cause of anaemia depending on a patient’s history, clinical symptoms and results from previous tests. These initial results help determine whether or not a patient has anaemia. In general, a clinician will first run haematology testing including a complete blood count and haemoglobin levels. Laboratory testing aids clinicians in diagnosing and pinpointing which type of anaemia a patient is affected by in order to direct the correct treatment. To combat the complexity of anaemia and the challenges clinicians face reaching a diagnosis, a wealth of information is needed, compiled from a variety of laboratory tests.ĭiagnosing anaemia – a comprehensive menu of testing options Patients suffering with anaemia will often present with general and varied symptoms, which a clinician needs to interpret. Vitamin B12, folate & Vitamin AĪs each of these different types of anaemia has a different cause, it is important that clinicians are able to distinguish between them and correctly diagnose the accurate basis of a patient’s anaemia for treatment.
When anaemia reaches a severe level, it is associated with fatigue, weakness, dizziness and drowsiness, and in extreme cases, death. As life expectancy continues to increase and the ageing population grows this creates an important health issue. For individuals aged over 50, a US study showed that anaemia prevalence rates rose rapidly to greater than 20% for those aged 85 and over 4. In developed countries there is a high prevalence of anaemia among the elderly.
However, anaemia is a worldwide issue, with figures for industrialised countries reaching 30-40% 3 for these demographics as well. In developing countries, anaemia affects over half of preschool-age children and pregnant women, and is one of the most common, preventable causes of death within these groups 3. The highest prevalence is in preschool-age children, while the lowest prevalence is in men 2. In general, anaemia tends to affect vulnerable people, namely young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with serious and chronic diseases. Global statistics on the prevalence of anaemia are difficult to obtain, however, the most recent report from WHO provides some figures that highlight the number of individuals affected across different regions (Table 1, below). Diagnosing this complex disease therefore presents a challenge for clinicians to ensure the correct type and cause can be identified to direct the best treatment path. There are multiple types of anaemia and a wide variety of causes. This can impair quality of life and potentially lead to additional health complications or life-threatening conditions. Affecting approximately two billion individuals, WHO estimates that almost 25% of the global population is affected by anaemia 1.Īnaemia is one of the most common disorders of the blood, where the number of red blood cells and/or their oxygen carrying capacity is insufficient.