USPSTF: Evidence Still Lacking for Iron Deficiency Screening in Pregnancy
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Aug. 20, 2024 -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to weigh the balance of benefits and harms for recommending screening for iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy. These findings form the basis of a final recommendation statement published online Aug. 20 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Amy G. Cantor, M.D., M.P.H., from the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, and colleagues conducted a systematic review to update the 2015 USPSTF recommendations on screening for iron deficiency anemia and iron deficiency during pregnancy. Data were included from 17 trials (24,023 participants). The researchers found that based on four and six trials, iron supplementation was associated with a reduced risk for maternal iron deficiency anemia at term (relative risk, 0.40) and maternal iron deficiency at term (relative risk, 0.47) compared with placebo or no iron supplement. Compared with placebo or no supplementation, maternal iron supplements were not associated with maternal or infant adverse effects. Transient gastrointestinal adverse effects were harms of iron supplementation.
Based on these findings, the USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient for assessing the balance of benefits and harms of screening for iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in asymptomatic pregnant women (I statement). In addition, the current evidence is insufficient for ascertaining the balance of benefits and harms of iron supplementation in asymptomatic pregnant women on maternal and infant health outcomes (I statement).
"We don't have the evidence we need to determine whether or not screening for iron levels or using iron supplements improve health, so we are calling for more research on both these important topics," USPSTF member Esa Davis, M.D., M.P.H., said in a statement.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted August 2024
Read this next
Specific Antiseizure Medications Associated With Major Malformations in Infants
FRIDAY, July 18, 2025 -- Maternal use of valproate, phenobarbital, and topiramate early in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for major malformations in infants...
ENDO: Guidelines Developed for Pregnancy Care in Preexisting Diabetes
FRIDAY, July 18, 2025 -- In a joint clinical practice guideline issued by the Endocrine Society and European Society of Endocrinology, recommendations are presented for pregnancy...
USPSTF Continues to Recommend Syphilis Screening Early in Pregnancy
TUESDAY, May 13, 2025 -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for syphilis during pregnancy. This recommendation forms the basis of a final...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.