[Considerations on the standardized diagnosis and treatment of iron-deficiency anemia]

The prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is high in China, especially among children, the elderly and pregnant women. It can be associated with a variety of diseases involving major systems, and even cause irreversible damage to the immune and nervous system. It is noteworthy that only less than 20% of the IDA population have access to timely treatment. This requires attention towards the standardized diagnosis and treatment of IDA with multidisciplinary collaboration. This article reviews the recent research updates of IDA, revealing the new findings in the harms of IDA, current challenges in the treatment of IDA, and the latest research and development progress of intravenous iron. The aim is to provide guidance and suggestions on timely diagnosis and proper treatment of IDA.