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26-Nov-2019

Vifor Pharma raises awareness on Iron Deficiency Day 2019 for people around the world to take iron seriously

St Gallen, 26 November 2019: Iron Deficiency Day is an international event which raises awareness of the serious impact of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia.1 

Since its launch in 2015, Iron Deficiency Day has aimed to educate people globally about the importance of iron for the body and what can happen if iron levels are not properly managed. It encourages people to become better informed and take control over their health.

Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia is estimated to affect one in three people worldwide2, yet despite the serious consequences and high prevalence of iron deficiency,3 it is still an under-recognised condition.

Stefan Schulze, President of the Executive Committee and COO from Vifor Pharma said: “At Vifor Pharma we strive to help patients around the world lead better and healthier lives. We are very proud that we are able to join forces with The Heart Failure Policy Network, European Kidney Health Alliance and the Anaemia Community to raise global awareness of the serious health problems associated with iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia.”

Iron deficiency, with and without anaemia, can be debilitating and exacerbate underlying chronic diseases, leading to increased morbidity and mortality.4 The symptoms of iron deficiency can manifest in different ways; they are hard to determine and can be associated with a number of other health conditions4,5, but common symptoms include:

  • Fatigue
  • Pale skin
  • Brittle nails
  • Inability to concentrate

Iron Deficiency Day 2019 has a particular focus on the importance of iron deficiency in women’s health, and the connection between iron deficiency and chronic heart failure.

Ed Harding of the European Heart Failure Policy Network said: “Iron deficiency in conditions such as heart failure is a very serious problem; in Europe 50% of CHF Patients have some form of iron deficiency6. Iron Deficiency Day has an important role in raising awareness of these conditions and helping people to understand their symptoms, seek a proper diagnosis, and ultimately receive the correct treatment.”

For more information visit the Iron Deficiency Day website at www.IronDeficiencyDay.com and follow on Instagram and on Twitter, using the hashtags #IDDay2019 #TakeIronSeriously #IronDeficiency #IronMatters.

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References

  1. Hassan, Tamer Hasan et al. “Impact of Iron Deficiency Anemia on the Function of the Immune System in Children.” Ed. Esaki M. Shankar. Medicine 95.47 (2016): e5395. PMC. Web. 12 June 2018.
  2. Peyrin-Biroulet L, et al. Guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency across indications: a systematic review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015;102(6):1585-94.
  3. World Health Organisation. Worldwide prevalence of anaemia 1993-2005. 2008. Available at URL: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/43894/9789241596657_eng.pdf;jsessionid=9C613E2F4D481EDEB9DE07986AFCE0C7?sequence=1. Last accessed: June 2018.
  4. Cappellini MD et al. Iron deficiency across chronic inflammatory conditions: International expert opinion on definition, diagnosis, and management. Am J Hematol. 2017 Oct;92(10):1068-1078.
  5. Auerbach M, Adamson JW. How we diagnose and treat iron deficiency anemia. Am J Hematol. 2016;91(1):31-38.
  6. Ebner N, von Haehling S. Iron deficiency in heart failure: a practical guide. Nutrients. 2013;5(9):3730-9. doi:10.3390/nu5093730.
  7. Hercberg S, et al. Iron deficiency in Europe. Public Health Nutr. 2007;4(2b).
  8. Patterson A et al. Iron deficiency, general health and fatigue: Results from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Qual Life Res. 2000;9:491-497.
  9. Fernando B, et al. A guide to diagnosis of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in digestive diseases. World J Gastroenterol. 2009 Oct 7; 15(37): 4638-4643.
  10. Favrat, B., et al. (2014). Evaluation of a single dose of ferric carboxymaltose in fatigued, iron-deficient women--PREFER a randomized, placebo-controlled study. PLoS One 9(4): e94217. eCollection 2014. <
  11. Cashman MW, Sloan SB. Nutrition and nail disease. Clin Dermatol. 2010;28(4):420-5.
  12. Barton JC, et al. Pica associated with iron deficiency or depletion: clinical and laboratory correlates in 262 non-pregnant adult outpatients. BMC Blood Disord. 2010;10:9. doi:10.1186/1471-2326-10-9.
  13. World Health Organisation. Nutritional anaemias: tools for effective prevention and control. 2017. Available at URL: http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/micronutrients/anaemias-tools-prevention-control/en/. Last accessed: June 2018.