Iron deficiency in pregnancy: an Italian survey

Abstract

Objective. Iron deficiency with (IDA) or without anemia (IDWA) represents a global health issue. The present paper aims to evaluate several skills concerning the prevention of IDWA and the appropriate management of IDA, in pregnancy and in the post-partum, testing a heterogeneous group of Italian obstetricians.Materials and Methods. On April 2022, a group of obstetricians of Lazio region (GOAL Working Group) promoted an online survey among its members based on 27 questions dealing with IDA and IDWA in pregnancy and in the post-partum; aspects related to the Patient Blood Management (PBM) have also been investigated.Results. About 30% of the GOAL members answered the questionnaire. The prevalence of IDWA is thought to be around 41%, leading to a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. 54.1% of responders evaluate iron storage at the first visit in pregnancy thus proposing a diet rich in iron to all women they follow (67.2%). Although iron administration is more often needed to correct hemoglobin levels before starting labour, the prevalence of blood transfusion in the post-partum is thought to be around 2-5% (50.8%). Only the half of responders knows the PBM approach.Conclusions. It is desired to define how clinicians who care for pregnants perceive, frame and treat IDA and IDWA, which are too often not promptly diagnosed and managed, in order to improve antenatal care.