Effectiveness of Intravenous Iron Therapy in Patients with Iron Deficiency Anemia Presented to Emergency Department; Retrospective Study

Background: Patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) frequently with moderate to severe iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Our goal was to investigate the safety, side effects, and results of parenteral iron treatment for IDA patients presented to HMG ALRYAN hospital in Riyadh's emergency room.

Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study, conducted in emergency department of HMG ALRYAN hospital Riyadh, among adult IDA patients presented to emergency department for IV iron therapy. The data was collected by authors from hospital electronic database, then entered and analysed using SPSS v 24.

Results: A total of 296 iron deficiency patients were included, their mean age was 35.3 ± 11.2. Females constitute 94.6% of study sample. Mean of baseline hemoglobin concentration was 10.6 ± 1.9. 1/12 later hemoglobin concentration mean was 12.2 ± 1.6. The baseline serum iron concentration ranged from 1 - 155.1 mcg/dL, with mean ± SD of 9.5 ± 16.1. The results showed a significant association between age regarding baseline serum iron concentration, and 1/12 later serum iron concentration, where the younger age ones had higher response to iron. The statistical analysis showed a significant association between adverse effect, and admission to hospital for adverse effect (P=0.003), where most of those who hadn’t adverse effects were D/C.

Conclusion: Among included patients 5.4% had adverse effects to IV iron to treat IDA. The younger age patients had a significantly higher response to IV iron therapy.