Ethnic and Genetic Factors of Iron Status in Women of Reproductive Age

HEIRS included a cross-sectional screening study of 101,168 patients, 25 years of age or older, in the primary care setting. Participants were recruited from four centers in the U.S .and one in Canada from February 2001 to February 2003. We will evaluate results for women aged 25-44 years of age who are self-reported as Asian, Black, Hispanic or White. The lower detection limit for the serum ferritin (SF) assay in the HEIRS study was 15 μg/L and therefore the definition of iron deficiency will be SF concentration ≤ 15 μg/L. Elevated SF concentrations, possibly indicative of elevated iron stores, will be classified by two definitions: 1) SF concentration > 300 μg/L and 2) SF >200 μg/L in combination with TSAT >45%. Proportions will be compared by Pearson's chi-square. Logistic regression models will be used to identify independent associations with measures of iron deficiency and elevated iron stores.