Anemia in general practice

Among 4928 consecutive consultations in urban general practice in Mid-Norway anemia was found in 106 patients. Eighty-nine patients had their anemia worked out and treated by their general practitioner, 11 patients were referred to hospital or specialist, and in 6 patients no clear-cut reason for the anemia could be found. The patients could be broadly divided into four groups: iron deficiency in pregnancy (48%), iron deficiency secondary to bleeding (21%) anemia of chronic diseases (17%) and miscellaneous (7%).