Experts discuss potential role of red blood cell dynamics, iron homeostasis in COVID-19

Anaemia contributes to an estimated 80 per cent of India’s maternal deaths with almost 53 per cent of pregnant women being anaemic according to National Family Health Survey-4

Addressing the public health challenge that anaemia continues to pose around the world, especially during the current global SARS-COV-2 pandemic, experts at a recent medical education series drew on recent research that explores the potential role of red blood cell dynamics and iron homeostasis in the clinical presentation of COVID-19.

Approximately 2.3 billion people suffer from anaemia, with an estimated one in two attributed to iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and experiencing symptoms like frequent tiredness, dizziness, paleness, impaired immunity, thus impacting their quality of life and productivity. Southeast Asia and Africa continue to report the highest prevalence rates of anaemia, accounting for 85 percent of global reported cases

India is one of the countries carrying the largest burden of anaemia globally, contributing to an estimated 80 per cent of the maternal deaths with almost 53 per cent of pregnant women being anaemic according to National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4)

Held virtually across seven countries in Asia, this year’s opening session of P&G Health’s ‘P&G Blood Health Forum’, a virtual series of medical education sharing sessions involving internationally recognised experts, was themed ‘Pioneering blood health through early diagnosis and management of iron and micronutrient deficiency’.

The discussion sessions, led by an international speaker faculty of leading experts in the fields of anaemia, public health, iron physiology and nutritional health, covered a wide breadth of topics on the diagnosis, communication and management of iron deficiency and anaemia in patients.

Speakers included Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Robert arding Inaugural Chair in Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children and Co-Director of the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health (Canada); Dr Michael Low, Consultant Haematologist, Monash Medical Centre (Australia); and Prof Dr Michael B. Zimmermann, Professor of Human Nutrition at the Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich (Switzerland)

Speaking about the goals of the meet, Aalok Agrawal, Senior Vice President, P&G Health – Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, said, “By providing a platform for the fruitful exchange of scientific research and clinical insights, we hope to nurture better awareness of the most effective approaches and tools in fighting anemia.”

Prof Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta, Robert Harding Inaugural Chair in Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children and Co-Director of the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health (Canada) highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic and its myriad economic consequences have made tacking anaemia even more challenges and suggested that addressing these systematically through improved diagnostic measures and appropriate interventions should become a global priority.

As part of this initiative, P&G Health also announced a strategic partnership with the ‘Asia & Oceania Federation of Obstetrics & Gynaecology’ (AOFOG) whom it will be collaborating with on future professional and public health initiatives. This includes a series of ‘Blood Health Forum’ virtual sessions covering topics designed to educate, raise awareness and ultimately support better patient outcomes.

Dr Rishma Pai, President of The Mumbai Obstetrics & Gynaecology Society highlighted the fact that “Iron deficiency anemia is a very common nutritional condition affecting women and children across the world. In India, studies have concluded that up to 53 per cent of pregnant women suffer from iron deficiency putting them at huge risk of severe health problems during pregnancy and delivery. This is a big challenge and therefore there is a need for education and awareness. P&G’s Blood Health Forum hosted on MediSage platform is a step forward towards positive change that will help open horizons through latest scientific updates, skill building and tools from across the globe to help heighten awareness among healthcare professionals around treating anemia effectively, and help break the cycle of iron deficiency and its associated problems.”