Prevalence of iron deficiency without anaemia in inflammatory bowel disease and impact on health-related quality of life

Abstract Introduction Iron deficiency without anaemia (IDWA) is commonly found in outpatients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in an even higher proportion than anaemia. However, its true prevalence and possible impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are unknown. The objectives of this study were: to establish the prevalence of IDWA, identify possible associated factors and measure their impact on HRQoL. Materials and methods 127 patients with IBD in an outpatient setting were consecutively included in an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. IDWA was defined as ferritin levels of Results The prevalence of IDWA was 37%. Variables associated with its occurrence were female gender (OR = 2.9; p  = 0.015) and the presence of inflammatory activity (OR = 9.4; p  = 0.001). Patients with IDWA presented HRQoL questionnaires with lower overall scores; decreases of 6.6 ( p p  = 0.037) points in the IBDQ-9 and the FACIT-F were recorded, respectively. In addition, an increase of 29.4% in the presence of extreme fatigue was observed. Conclusion The prevalence of IDWA is considerable in outpatients with IBD. IDWA is associated with female gender and inflammatory activity. It has a clear negative impact on HRQoL. A more active approach is needed to treat this complication.