Definition and prevalence of anemia in Bolivian women of childbearing age living at high altitudes: the effect of iron-folate supplementation

The cut-off values for diagnosis of anemia by hemoglobin concentrations in people living at high altitudes should be revised upward as many who are actually anemic are not being recognized as such. People living at high altitudes have higher concentrations of hemoglobin and hematocrit than people who live nearer to sea level. However, the standard linear increase per 1000 meters is incorrect and the increase is exponential. The presence of anemia at high altitudes was shown by the rate of hemoglobin response to iron-folate supplements.