Appropriateness of iron prescribing: a retrospective study

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 120 patients who received an initial prescription of iron from a resident physician in internal medicine to determine how accurately house officers diagnose iron-deficiency anemia before initiating iron therapy. Each patient's laboratory records were reviewed for the 3-month period before the prescription. Of the 120 patients, 77 (64%) did not have any iron tests performed to aid in the diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia. Forty-three percent of those who had iron tests did not have the disorder by our criteria. Ferritin levels and iron profiles are often not measured in patients prescribed iron, and when they are, they are frequently misinterpreted by medical house officers. This can lead to inappropriate gastrointestinal procedures as well as inappropriate prescribing of iron.