Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 93(7):654–660, JULY 2014

DOI: 10.1111/aogs.12394

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PMID: 24912842

Issn Print: 0001-6349

Publication Date: July 2014


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Effects of anemia and iron deficiency on quality of life in women with heavy menstrual bleeding

Pirkko Peuranpää;Satu Heliövaara-Peippo;Ian Fraser;Jorma Paavonen;Ritva Hurskainen;

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Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess the impact of anemia and iron deficiency on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women treated for heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB).DesignSecondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.SettingFive university hospitals in Finland.SampleA total of 236 women referred for HMB.MethodsWomen were randomized to treatment with hysterectomy or a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system. We defined groups based on women's pretreatment hemoglobin [hemoglobin <120 g/L (anemic) vs. hemoglobin ≥120 g/L (nonanemic)] and serum ferritin (ferritin <15 μg/L vs. ≥15 μg/L) concentrations. HRQoL was compared between groups at baseline, 6 and 12 months after treatment. Hemoglobin and ferritin were followed for 5 years.Main outcome measuresHRQoL was measured by the RAND 36-item health survey (RAND-36), 5-Dimensional EuroQol and two questionnaires of mental wellbeing.ResultsAt baseline, 63 women (27%) were anemic and 140 (60%) were severely iron deficient (ferritin <15 μg/L). Only 8% of the anemic women had taken iron supplementation. Twelve months after treatment hemoglobin had increased in both hemoglobin groups, but was still significantly lower (p< 0.001) in initially anemic women (128 g/L) compared with nonanemic women (136 g/L). Twelve months after treatment three domain scores of RAND-36 increased more (energy, p= 0.002; physical functioning, p= 0.04; social functioning, p= 0.05), and anxiety (p= 0.02) and depression scores (p= 0.002) decreased more in anemic compared with nonanemic women. Serum ferritin took 5 years to reach normal levels.ConclusionsImproved HRQoL after treatment of HMB is associated with correction of anemia. Clinicians should actively screen for anemia in women with HMB and emphasize early iron substitution as an integral part of treatment.

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