ANAEMIA
Southeast Asia still has highest rates of anaemia
Pandemic has made it harder for doctors to tackle the widespread condition
Southeast Asia has some of the world ’ s highest rates of anaemia , a disease that affects a quarter of the world ’ s population . Concentrated in women and pre-school-age children , its symptoms include frequent tiredness , dizziness , and impaired immunity caused by insufficient iron and healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen to the body .
If left untreated , anaemia can reduce our ability to go about daily activities , with studies showing it can harm productivity in adults and impair physical and cognitive development in children .
“ Asia is still an epidemiological hot spot for anaemia prevalence . In fact , the most recent World Health Organisation survey suggests that the greatest number of children and women with anaemia reside in Southeast Asia ,” Dr Ashley Barlow , head of medical and technical affairs at P & G Health , the healthcare division of The Procter & Gamble Company , told Global Health Asia-Pacific .
Dr Barlow had been speaking following the November P & G Blood Health Forum in Singapore where experts had gathered to exchange scientific research and clinical insights into effective approaches and tools for fighting anaemia , an ongoing public health challenge .
Roughly 50 percent of cases are attributed to iron deficiency anaemia , which can be caused by poor diet , iron malabsorption through infections such as Helicobacter pylori , and chronic blood loss due to underlying comorbidities , including heavy menstruation and hookworm infection . Infants , adolescents , and
Anaemia is caused by unhealthy blood cells
pregnant women also have greater need for iron and red blood cells .
In the worst affected countries , including Indonesia , India , Pakistan and Bangladesh , high iron deficiency anaemia rates are the result of a complex interplay of these factors , while socioeconomic and education levels also play a role , all of which increase the probability and severity of the condition .
Speaking at the same Singapore event , Aalok Agrawal , P & G Health ’ s senior vice-president for Asia Pacific , Middle East and Africa , told participants that “ Anaemia disproportionately affects some of our most vulnerable segments of society — women and children . By providing a platform for the fruitful exchange of scientific research and clinical insights , we hope to nurture better awareness of the most effective approaches and tools in fighting anaemia .”
Events this year have not made it any easier to reduce case numbers , according to Dr Barlow .
“ The continued impact and global disease burden due to iron deficiency anaemia remains real , concerning , and , in fact , ominous under the ongoing pandemic-constrained scenario ,” he said .
Doctors should become more aware of the relevant biomarkers and symptomology associated with iron depletion , even when patients present with normal haemoglobin and full blood count , said Dr Barlow .
“ This is invaluable , evidence-based guidance to healthcare professionals , both in terms of condition recognition and practical patient management . Importantly , we need to highlight to them the far-reaching implications of iron deficiency in terms of quality of life , exercise tolerance , and socioeconomic factors ,” he added .
From a public health perspective , Dr Barlow argues that iron supplementation should be recognised for its important role in immunological function , vaccine response , the gut microbiome , and infection risk .
Given that anemia is so common in low- to middle-income countries , managing iron deficiency anaemia could bring major benefits to the population .
“ These insights , combined with recent publications , provide clear direction for new innovative iron therapies which avoid the risks of both gut and system iron overload ,” said Dr Barlow .
42 DECEMBER 2020 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com