IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA AND COVID-19: DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS IN PARANÁ, BETWEEN 2018 AND 2022

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia is a condition characterized by reduced levels of hemoglobin in the blood, which is responsible for transporting oxygen to tissues. It is the most common anemia worldwide, affecting about 2 billion people, or 30% of the global population. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The virus can cause inflammation in the lungs, which can lead to pneumonia. Iron deficiency anemia can worsen the lung inflammation caused by COVID-19, increasing the risk of disease complications. The article in question aims to deliver a comparative analysis regarding the quantitative description of reported cases of hospitalizations and deaths among patients with iron-deficiency anemia during the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods, analyzing the years from 2018 to 2022 to verify differences between gender and age groups in anemia patients and how this condition interferes with the development of COVID-19. This study was conducted in the state of Paraná, based on data available from the Department of Health Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS). The results showed a significant increase in deaths and hospitalizations among patients with iron-deficiency anemia after the pandemic. In 2020, the number of deaths due to iron-deficiency anemia increased by 15% compared to 2019. The number of hospitalizations also increased by 10%. The data analysis suggests that iron-deficiency anemia could be a risk factor for the severity of COVID-19. Therefore, patients with iron-deficiency anemia need to be frequently monitored during the pandemic.