Prevalence, Severity, and Type of Anaemia Among Malaysian Women of Reproductive Age

Abstract Objectives Globally, anaemia affects approximately one third of adolescent girls and women of reproductive age. Anaemia can lead to severe health consequences and can negatively impact social and economic development. Our aim was to understand the prevalence, severity and types of anaemia among Malaysian women. Methods A total of n = 331 Malaysian women (18–45 y) who were recruited for a trial on the effects of once weekly iron folic acid supplementation on blood folate levels were included in the analyses for this objective. Fasting venous blood was collected and a complete blood count was conducted using an automated haematology analyser. Results The mean ± SD age of participants was 19.0 ± 2.3 years. Eighty-nine % of participants were Malay (n = 295); the remainder identified as Chinese, Indian, or of another ethnicity (11%; n = 36). The mean ± SD body mass index (BMI) of participants was 22.4 ± 4.8 kg/m2, with 60% (n = 199) having a normal BMI (BMI between 18.5–24.9 kg/m2). Overall, the mean ± SD haemoglobin (Hb) concentration was 128.5 ± 11.5 g/L, with 17.5% (n = 58) women presenting as anaemic (Hb < 120 g/L). Of the 58 women with anaemia, 59% (n = 40) had mild anaemia (Hb 110–119 g/L), 29% (n = 17) had moderate anaemia (Hb 80–109 g/L), and ∼2% (n = 1) had severe anaemia (Hb < 80 g/L). Among the participants with anaemia, 52% (n = 30) presented with microcytic cells (mean corpuscular volume < 78 fL), and 72% (n = 42) presented with hypochromic cells (mean corpuscular haemoglobin < 27 pg). None of the women with Hb < 120 g/L had macrocytic or hyperchromic cells. Conclusions Anaemia prevalence among Malaysian women of reproductive age in our study was lower than previously reported in a national survey (17.5% vs. 25%, respectively). The majority of anaemia was microcytic, which may be an indication of iron deficiency and/or genetic haemoglobin disorders, both of which are known to be prevalent in Southeast Asia. Funding Sources Nutrition International.