First convened in 2000, the National Anemia Action Council (NAAC) is a multidisciplinary consortium of leading physician specialists, all experts in identifying and treating anemia. NAAC is dedicated to raising awareness regarding the prevalence, symptoms, consequences, and undertreatment of anemia and to achieving better patient outcomes.
 

Welcome to AnemiaAlert

Thank you for signing up for AnemiaAlert, the e-newsletter of the National Anemia Action Council. NAAC’s bimonthly e-newsletter responds to the need of health care professionals for timely, quick-to-read information on anemia.

Each issue contains facts from recent research that may impact your practice. You are also able to quickly link to www.anemia.org, NAAC's Web site, to read features, which include interviews with leading anemia researchers and commentaries by NAAC specialists, and to review expert answers to submitted practice questions. Be sure to access www.anemia.org’s newest features: The NAAC Anemia Reference Library and NAAC’s free electronic CME courses.

Fast Facts

Anemia Is a Potent Multiplier of Mortality Risk in the Elderly

Data based on a 5% Medicare sample, 1996-1997.

(Presented by A. Collins, Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, MN, at ASN, 2002.)

Prevalence of Anemia Is 9% in US Adults

Results of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study of 15,792 adults, ages 45 to 64, indicate that 9% of community-dwelling adults (13% of women and 5% of men) are anemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) definition (men <13 g/dL, women <12g/dL). (J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002;40:27-33.)

Anemia Plus CKD Boosts Stroke Risk

Analysis of data from the ARIC study that controlled for age, race, gender, smoking status, serum lipids, and blood pressure found that people with anemia and impaired renal function had a 7.6-fold increased risk of stroke compared to those without anemia or impaired renal function (6.6% vs 1.5%). (Presented by J. L. Abramson, Emory University, GA, at AHA, 2003.)

80% of the World’s Population Has Access to Only 20% of Safe Blood Supply

Of WHO’s 191 member states, only 43% test blood for HIV and hepatitis C and hepatitis B viruses. Each year, unsafe blood transfusions and injections result in 8 to 16 million hepatitis B, 2.3 to 4.7 million hepatitis C, and 80,000 to 160,000 HIV infections. Goodnough LT et al (The Lancet. 2003;361:161-169).

Anemia in the Elderly Is Associated With Increased Morbidity and Mortality

Because anemia in the elderly may be the first sign of underlying serious pathology, the evaluation of newly diagnosed anemia should not be delayed in patients with a life expectancy of 1 year or longer. Once the cause is identified, anemia is potentially reversible with appropriate treatment. Balducci L (JAGS. 2003;51 (suppl):S2-S9).

Currently at www.anemia.org

Featured Research With topics selected by the NAAC leadership, these articles include interviews with leading anemia researchers, often accompanied by commentaries written by NAAC specialists. The latest postings:

Simple Guideline Introduced for Diagnosing, Evaluating Iron Deficiency Anemia

High Prevalence and Suboptimal Management of Anemia Among Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Research Briefs These annotated summaries highlight other important recent research. The latest postings:

Iron Deficiency During Infancy Impairs Development

Cardiorenal Anemia Deserves Joint Treatment by Nephrologists, Cardiologists

Iron Sucrose Plus Erythropoietin Best for Iron Deficiency Anemia During Pregnancy

Anemia Still Highly Prevalent Among Women in India

Answers to Your Practice Questions NAAC specialists respond to practice questions submitted by physicians and other health care professionals. The latest postings:

Why do we see the hemoglobin drop within 48 hours of erythropoietin therapy when iron saturation was <20% before the dose was initiated?

What are the options for treating anemia associated with Felty’s syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis patients?

The NAAC Anemia Reference Library

Launched in February, the NAAC Anemia Reference Library is a comprehensive online resource for research on secondary anemias. Searchable by category, most references are linked to a National Library of Medicine PubMed abstract or an associated Web site. The database is continually updated with the latest published anemia studies. The NAAC Anemia Reference Library

    Free E-CME

Free electronic CME courses are another new www.anemia.org feature. Now you can conveniently update your anemia knowledge and simultaneously meet CME requirements. You can complete the course and print your completion certificate—all within 1 hour. The Free E-CME Courses