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Anemia

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Family Medicine

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Abstract

Anemia is a reduction in blood hemoglobin (Hgb) concentration or hematocrit (Hct). Normal values of Hgb and Hct vary based on age, gender, ethnicity, and other special considerations and have been widely studied over the years. Data from large samples selected to represent the population of the United States suggests that the lower limit of normal hemoglobin concentrations be 13.7 g/dL in young white men (ages 20–59 years) and 12.9 g/dL in young black men; 13.2 g/dL in white and 12.7 g/dL in black men ages 60 years and over; and 12.2 g/dL in white women and 11.5 g/dL in black women 20 years and over, including elderly women [1]. The lower limit of normal for children age 1–3 years is 11 g/dL, with the cutoff rising to approach adult values by age 15–19 years. Between 2003 and 2012 data from five National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys estimated that 5.6% of the United States’ population had anemia based on the World Health Organization’s criteria, with pregnant women, women of reproductive age, the elderly, non-Hispanic blacks, and Hispanics at highest risk [2].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Health System, Santa Monica, CA, USA

    Daniel T. Lee & Monica L. Plesa

Authors
  1. Daniel T. Lee
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  2. Monica L. Plesa
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Correspondence to Daniel T. Lee or Monica L. Plesa .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA

    Paul M. Paulman

  2. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA

    Robert B. Taylor

  3. Department of Family Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA

    Audrey A. Paulman

  4. Department of Family Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA

    Laeth S. Nasir

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Lee, D.T., Plesa, M.L. (2022). Anemia. In: Paulman, P.M., Taylor, R.B., Paulman, A.A., Nasir, L.S. (eds) Family Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54441-6_132

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54441-6_132

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-54440-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-54441-6

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