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Iron Deficiency Anemia

Did you know?

Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia have several etiologies that span across different clinical scenarios and medical specialties​?

Iron deficiency anemia is associated with numerous adverse outcomes​ and iron deficiency, even in the absence of anemia, is associated with symptoms ​and decreased health-related quality of life?

When we asked experts, what were the most common questions they receive from colleagues, they provided the following.

We invite you to listen and to read the per specialty Q&A found below.

Choose a topic

We invite you to listen to and read what our experts provided as answers when asked some of the most common questions on this subject.

Nephrology

Select a question:

  1. How do you define IDA in CKD patients?
  2. When would you consider IV iron for a patient with advanced CKD presenting a high ferritin level?
  3. When do you use oral vs IV iron in CKD patients?
  4. Why should we prescribe oral iron every other day vs every day?
  5. What are the different oral and IV iron preparations?

Hematology

Select a question:

  1. At what ferritin level is IDA diagnosed?
  2. What is the first treatment option for IDA?
  3. When would you consider intravenous iron formulations to treat iron deficiency?
  4. Is treatment warranted for patients presenting a normal hemoglobin level (120 g/L) but low ferritin levels (11 mcg/L)?
  5. What are the different oral and IV iron preparations?

Cardiology

Select a question:

  1. As a cardiologist, why should iron deficiency anemia be of concern?
  2. What are the best practices to detect and diagnose IDA in patients with CHF?
  3. How do you manage and treat ID/IDA in patients with CHF?
  4. What is the threshold at which I should initiate treatment for iron deficiency in chronic heart failure?
  5. What are the different oral and IV iron preparations?

Gastroenterology

Select a question:

  1. How do we define and assess IDA in gastroenterology and in inflammatory conditions?
  2. How do we evaluate the importance of iron deficit in patients with and without anemia?
  3. What are the treatment goals following oral or IV iron administration?
  4. Please discuss the safety of IV iron formulations
  5. What are the different oral and IV iron preparations?

Gynecology

Select a question:

  1. In the context of gynecology, how do we define anemia in the perioperative setting?
  2. What are the morbidities associated with anemic patients in perioperative care in the context of gynecology?
  3. How do we manage and treat anemic patients during the preoperative period in the context of gynecology?
  4. What are the different oral and IV iron preparations?
Meet our Experts

Dr. Faisal Rehman

MD, FRCPC, M.ED
Professor of Medicine
Schulich School of Medicine
Western University Site
Chief Medicine University Hospital
London Health Sciences Centre
Consultant Nephrologist

Dr. Ally Murji

MD, MPH
Associate Professor
University of Toronto
Advanced Pelvic Surgery
Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto

Edmond Jean Bernard

MD, FRCP(C), M. Sc.(Epi)​
Edmond Jean Bernard, MD FRCP(C), M. Sc.(Epi)
Assistant Professor Gastroenterology
University of Montreal
Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal and Centre des maladies inflammatoires et intestinales de Montréal

Dr. Karima Khamisa

MD, FRCPC
Assistant Professor
Division of Hematology
The Ottawa Hospital
Consultant Haematologist
The Ottawa Hospital (Civic Campus)

Dr Anique Ducharme

MD, MSc, FRCP
Professor of Medicine
University of Montreal
President, Canadian Heart Failure Society
Director of the Heart Failure Clinic at the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI)

    This program was supported by an educational grant from Pfizer Canada ULC.

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