The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by iron deficiency anemia:
Blood, blood-forming organs – Immune system (D50-D90).
- Increased susceptibility to infection
Skin and subcutaneous (L00-L99)
- Aphthae on the oral mucosa
- Pale skin/mucous membranes
- Brittle nails
- Hair loss
- Koilonychia – curvature of the fingernails
- Mouth corner rhagades
- Xeroderma (dry skin)
Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99)
- Iron deficiency syndrome (IDS) – iron deficiency-related fatigue, impaired concentration, depressed mood, insomnia (sleep disturbances), and cephalgia (headache).
- Concentration disorders
Pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium (O00-O99)
- Preterm birth (odds ratio 7.10; 95% confidence interval 6.28-8.03) with anemia before 31 weeks’ gestation (SSW); after 31 SSW: odds ratio 1.56; 1.49-1.62
- Deficiency birth (“small for gestational age”; odds ratio 2.81; 2.26-3.50) with anemia before 31 weeks’ gestation (SSW); after 31 SSW: odds ratio 1.76; 1.66-1.87
Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).
- Reduction in performance
- Fatigue
Further
- Iron-deficiency anemia reduces vaccine efficacy: low hemoglobin at the time of vaccination correlated most strongly with decreased formation of diphtheria and pertussis antibodies. Pneumococcal vaccination was also attenuated in effect.
