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Objetivo. Estudiar la prevalencia de la depleción de las reservas orgánicas de hierro, ferropenia y anemia ferropénica en la población adolescente de nuestro entorno asistencial. Diseño. Estudio transversal. Muestreo sistemático. Emplazamiento. Atención primaria, ámbito rural. Participantes. Muestra de 204 adolescentes sanos de 10,0-14,0 años de edad (93 varones y 111 mujeres). Mediciones principales. Antecedentes familiares/personales, actividad física, fecha de menarquia, peso, talla e índice de masa corporal relativo, hemoglobina (Hb), volumen corpuscular medio (VCM), índice de saturación de transferrina (IST) y ferritina (FS) a uno de cada 4 adolescentes en el examen de salud correspondiente a su edad. Eran motivo de exclusión una PCR positiva y/o VSG elevada. Se consideró depleción de los depósitos férricos si FS < 12 ng/dl, ferropenia si además IST < 14% y/o VCM < 75 fl, y anemia ferropénica si además Hb < 12 g/dl. Resultados. Un 8,6% de varones y un 12,6% de mujeres adolescentes presentaban una carencia de hierro en alguno de sus diferentes estadios, bien como depleción de los depósitos férricos (varones, 2,2%; mujeres, 6,3%), ferropenia (varones, 3,2%; mujeres: 3,6%), o anemia (varones, 3,2%, mujeres, 2,7%), sin que existieran diferencias significativas entre ambos sexos. Conclusiones. En los adolescentes de 10-14 años de nuestro entorno asistencial la carencia de hierro es relativamente importante, y su prevención, detección y control deberían contemplarse específicamente en los Programas de Atención a la Población Infantil y Adolescente.
Aims. To study the prevalence of depletion of organic iron stores, ferropenia and ferropenic anemia in the adolescent population in a health care district in northern Spain. Design. Cross-sectional, with systematic sampling. Setting. Primary health care service in a rural setting. Participants. Sample of 204 healthy adolescents aged 10.0 to 14.0 years; 93 males, 111 females. Main measures. Familial and personal antecedents, physical activity, date of menarche, weight, height and body mass index, hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), transferrin saturation index (TSI) and serum ferritin (SF) were recorded for 1 out of every 4 adolescents who visited the health center for a regular check-up. Positive C-reactive protein or erythrocyte sedimentation rate were criteria for exclusion. Iron stores were considered to be depleted when SF was < 12 ng/dL, ferropenia was said to exist when, in addition, TSI was < 14% or MCV was < 75 fL, and ferropenic anemia was said to exist when, in addition, Hb was < 12 g/dL. Results. Some stage of iron deficiency was found in 8.6% of the males and 12.6% of the females. Iron stores were depleted in 2.2% and 6.3%, respectively; ferropenia was found in 3.2% and 3.6%, respectively; and anemia was found in 3.2% and 2.7%, respectively. There were no significant differences between the sexes. Conclusions. In adolescents aged 10 to 14 years in our health care setting, iron deficiency was relatively common. Health care programs for children and adolescents should aim specifically to prevent, detect and control iron deficiency.
