Story perspectives

Globally, Women’s Iron-Deficiency Anemia Declines; DALYs Still Rise

5/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

The global analysis found that prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia in women of childbearing age declined between 1990 and 2021 at a change of –0.11 (95 % CI –0.13 to –0.08).
Disability-adjusted life years rose to 22.93 million while the age-standardized DALY rate fell to 598 per 100,000 (EAPC –0.37, 95 % CI –0.39 to –0.34).
Researchers called for targeted, equitable interventions through 2040 because high-SDI regions reduced the burden while low-SDI regions lagged and grew.

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Story summary

The global analysis found that prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia in women of childbearing age declined between 1990 and 2021 at a change of –0.11 (95 % CI –0.13 to –0.08).
Disability-adjusted life years rose to 22.93 million while the age-standardized DALY rate fell to 598 per 100,000 (EAPC –0.37, 95 % CI –0.39 to –0.34).
Researchers called for targeted, equitable interventions through 2040 because high-SDI regions reduced the burden while low-SDI regions lagged and grew.