StatPearls has developed a comprehensive clinical decision support tool over the last decade, offering the largest and most updated point-of-care resource available. This tool also provides an opportunity for healthcare professionals to earn CME/CE credits by searching and reading articles. A recent article looked at anemia, a common medical condition defined as having a hemoglobin level below two standard deviations of the mean for a patient’s age and gender. The primary cause of anemia globally is iron deficiency, which leads to the production of microcytic and hypochromic red cells visible on a peripheral blood smear. Patients with this condition often present with nonspecific symptoms like fatigue and dyspnea on exertion. Treatment strategies focus on reversing the root cause and supplementing iron, typically through oral intake, though some cases may necessitate intravenous administration. Notably, patients suffering from iron-deficient anemia tend to experience longer hospital stays and a higher incidence of adverse events.

Reference: Warner MJ, Kamran MT. Iron Deficiency Anemia. 2023 Aug 7. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan. PMID: 28846348.