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Current Strategies for Treating Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Adults

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Course Overview

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is usually not life-threatening. However, the consequences of IDA are significant—a lower quality of life, impaired functioning, and increased risks to overall health. When anemia occurs alongside renal or cardiovascular chronic diseases, mortality rates are higher (Beavers, 2023; Shaikh, 2024). And when anemia occurs during pregnancy, worsened health outcomes can extend into subsequent generations. Treating iron deficiency anemia is straightforward using oral or intravenous iron products. Once iron stores are replenished, anemia usually quickly resolves. However, if the underlying causes of iron deficiency aren’t addressed or if iron stores aren’t made robust again, then anemia can easily return. What’s more, iron deficiency without anemia is itself clinically significant. It can also cause anemia symptoms such as fatigue, impaired functioning, and exercise intolerance (Garcia-Casal, 2021). In this course, IDA in adults will be covered in depth. The goal is to provide pharmacists with the confidence and up-to-date knowledge base so that they can help be part of the “all hands on deck” approach to preventing, identifying, and treating iron deficiency, the most common cause of anemia. 

Learning Outcomes 
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

  • Explain iron homeostasis, the factors affecting iron requirements, and the deficiency risks.
  • Summarize symptoms of iron deficiency anemia and lab parameters used to diagnose it.
  • Outline the treatment approaches for replacing iron with oral and intravenous iron formulations, explaining when follow-up testing or referrals may be needed.
  • Understand the public health need for improving strategies to prevent and manage iron deficiency.

About the Author/Presenter 

Daphne Berryhill, RPh, is a clinical pharmacist, medical writer, and reviewer. She currently works part-time as an oncology infusion pharmacist in Madison, Wisconsin. In addition, she is a contributor to GoodRx Health, Forbes Health, and HealthDay News. Previous pharmacist roles include home infusion and anticoagulation. Daphne graduated from Chicago College of Pharmacy at Midwestern University in 1999 with a bachelor's degree.
 
Audience/Accreditations and Approvals 
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE 
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Nursing, Pharmacy

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