[Iron deficiency in reproductive age university women at the School of Medicine, Uruguay].

Introduccion: Los trastornos del metabolismo del hierro son condiciones patologicas muy frecuentes. La deficiencia de hierro, con o sin anemia, se estima que afecta a mas de 2 billones de personas. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de deficiencia de hierro y anemia y los factores predisponentes en un grupo de mujeres premenopausicas, estudiantes universitarias de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de la Republica en Uruguay. Metodos: Se realizo un estudio observacional de corte transversal donde se incluyeron mujeres en edad reproductiva estudiantes universitarias de la Facultad de Medicina. Se les realizo una entrevista con el objetivo de recabar los datos clinicos y se registro el volumen menstrual mensual a traves de un pictograma. Se realizo un hemograma y se determinaron los niveles de ferritina. Resultados: Se incluyeron 196 mujeres de 18 a 37 anos. La prevalencia de ferropenia fue 8.7% (n=17) y la prevalencia de anemia fue de 2.1% (n=4). La presencia de ferropenia se asocio a un menor consumo de carne roja (p=0.024), a un mayor volumen menstrual (p=0.018) y a una mayor frecuencia de sangrado uterino anormal (p=0,019). Conclusion: Este estudio pone de manifiesto la frecuencia elevada de deficiencia de hierro en mujeres sanas en relacion con sangrado uterino anormal y bajo consumo de carne roja, lo que plantea la necesidad de implementar programas que promuevan medidas educativas a fin de promover la consulta precoz y evitar la anemia y ferropenia en estas mujeres en edad reproductiva. Introduction Disorders of iron metabolism are very common pathological conditions. Iron deficiency, with or without anemia, is estimated to affect more than 2 billion people.The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency and anemia and their predisposing factors in a group of premenopausal women, university students of the School of Medicine of the University of the Republic in Uruguay. Methods An observational cross-sectional study was carried out, including women of reproductive age, university students of the Faculty of Medicine. They were interviewed in order to collect clinical data and monthly menstrual volume was recorded through a pictogram. A hemogram was performed and ferritin levels were determined. Results 196 women aged from 18 to 37 years were included. The prevalence of iron deficiency was 8.7% (n = 17) and the prevalence of anemia was 2.1% (n = 4). The presence of iron deficiency was associated with a lower consumption of red meat (p = 0.024), a higher menstrual volume (p = 0.018) and a higher frequency of abnormal uterine bleeding (p = 0.019). Conclusions This study shows the high frequency of iron deficiency in healthy women in relation to abnormal uterine bleeding and low consumption of red meat, which raises the need to implement programs that promote educational measures in order to promote early consultation and avoid anemia and iron deficiency in these women of reproductive age.