Prevalence and Risk Factors of Iron Deficiency and Anemia in Women of Reproductive Age in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Background Women of reproductive age (WRA) are at elevated risk of iron deficiency (ID) and anemia; in the US, those of Hispanic/Latino background are at especially high risk. Causes of ID and anemia and variations in risk within Hispanic/Latino WRA are not well described. Objective To characterize ID and anemia and their risk factors/markers in Hispanic/Latina women. Methods Data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) were used. HCHS/SOL enrolled participants in 2008-2011 at four sites: Bronx, Chicago, Miami, and San Diego; 5,386 were non-pregnant women ages 18-49 years. Primary outcomes were ID (ferritin<30 μg/L) and anemia (hemoglobin<12 g/dL). Predictors were background/heritage, SASH acculturation scale scores, years lived in the US, and interview language; diet summarized in the Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI-2010); sociodemographic covariates, and study site. Main analyses used survey log binomial regressions adjusted for age, site, and smoking. Results Almost half (42%) of participants were of Mexican background, 15% of Cuban background, and <15% each were of Puerto Rican, Dominican, Central American, or South American background. ID prevalence was 34.4% overall but differed by site-background pairings. The lowest and highest prevalence were 26% and 42% among women of Cuban background in Miami and women of Mexican background in Chicago, respectively. Anemia prevalence was 16% and ranged from 8.9% (Central American background/Miami) to 22% (Dominican background/Bronx). Acculturation, sociodemographic, and diet variables examined did not explain observed prevalence differences by site/background. Conclusions Prevalence of ID and anemia were high among HCHS/SOL women and differed by field center and background. These differences highlight the importance of characterizing nutritional risk by background within Hispanic/Latino women.