Anemia Prevalence: United States, August 2021-August 2023

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• Anemia is a significant global health concern, particularly affecting vulnerable populations.
• Understanding prevalence across demographic subgroups is crucial for targeted interventions.
• Recent data on anemia prevalence in the US population is essential for public health planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the prevalence of anemia in people aged 2 years and older in the United States.
• To examine anemia prevalence by sex, age, race and Hispanic origin, and poverty income ratio.
• To identify disparities in anemia prevalence among different demographic groups.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (August 2021–August 2023).
• Calculated anemia prevalence using hemoglobin levels and standardized criteria for different age and sex groups.
• Employed statistical analyses, including t tests and linear regression, accounting for the complex survey design.

Main Results:

• Overall anemia prevalence was 9.3% in individuals aged 2 and older.
• Females (13.0%) had a higher prevalence than males (5.5%).
• Anemia prevalence was highest among Black non-Hispanic individuals and increased with decreasing family income.

Conclusions:

• Significant disparities in anemia prevalence exist based on sex, race and Hispanic origin, and socioeconomic status.
• Females consistently showed higher anemia rates across all examined groups.
• Findings underscore the need for public health strategies to address anemia, particularly in high-risk populations.