Prevalence and Determinants of Anemia and Iron Deficiency in Kuwait.
The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency (ID) of a nationally representative sample of the Kuwait population. We also determined if anemia differed by socioeconomic status or by RBC folate and vitamins A and B12 levels. The subjects who were made up of 1830 males and females between the ages of 2 months to 86 years, were divided into the following age groups (0-5, 5-11, 12-14, 15-19, 20-49, ≥50 years). Results showed that the prevalence of anemia was 3% in adult males and 17% in females. The prevalence of ID varied according to age between 4% (≥50 years) and 21% (5-11 years) and 9% (12-14 years) and 23% (15-19 years), respectively, in males and females. The prevalence of anemia and ID was higher in females compared to males. Adults with normal ferritin level, but with low RBC folate and vitamins A and B12 levels had higher prevalence of anemia than those with normal RBC folate and vitamins A and B12 levels. This first nationally representative nutrition and health survey in Kuwait indicated that anemia and ID are prevalent and ID contributes significantly to anemia prevalence.
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait. szenki@kisr.edu.kw.
Sameer
S
Al Zenki
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait. omirah@kisr.edu.kw.
Husam
H
Alomirah
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait. suad.alhooti@gmail.com.
Suad
S
Al Hooti
Food and Nutrition Administration, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 24225, Safat 13103, Kuwait. nawal.alhamad@gmail.com.
Nawal
N
Al Hamad
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740, USA. bojack53@gmail.com.
Robert T
RT
Jackson
Ministry of Health, Medical Laboratories Services, Sabah Hospital Laboratories, P.O. Box 24225, Safat 13103, Kuwait. aravindarao@hotmail.com.
Aravinda
A
Rao
Ministry of Health, Medical Laboratories Services, Sabah Hospital Laboratories, P.O. Box 24225, Safat 13103, Kuwait. nasseraljahmah@yahoo.com.
Nasser
N
Al Jahmah
Ministry of Health, Medical Laboratories Services, Sabah Hospital Laboratories, P.O. Box 24225, Safat 13103, Kuwait. inaobz218@hotmail.com.
Ina'am
I
Al Obaid
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait. jsager@kisr.edu.kw.
Jameela
J
Al Ghanim
Food and Nutrition Administration, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 24225, Safat 13103, Kuwait. m.alsumaie@gmail.com.
Mona
M
Al Somaie
National Nutrition Institute, 16 Kasr El Aini Street, P.O Box11311, Cairo, Egypt. zaghloulsahar@gmail.com.
Sahar
S
Zaghloul
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait. aothman@kisr.edu.kw.
Amani
A
Al Othman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D014801:Vitamin A; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12
RBC folate; epidemiology; public health; vitamin A