Assessment of Serum Ferritin and Hemoglobin Concentrations for Detecting Iron Deficiency in Females Aged 15–65 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency and anemia represent significant global public health challenges, particularly among females, necessitating precise biochemical and hematological evaluation. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess hemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations and examine their interrelationships among 67 apparently healthy females aged 15–65 years, enrolled between January and April 2024. Methods: Participants with systemic infections, positive C-reactive protein levels, known chronic diseases, or recent iron and nutritional supplementation were excluded. Hemoglobin concentrations were quantified using an automated hematology analyzer, whereas serum ferritin levels were measured via the ichroma™ fluorescence immunoassay system. Anemia and iron deficiency were defined using established clinical thresholds. Results: The mean participant age was 31.58 ± 16.66 years, with mean hemoglobin and ferritin concentrations of 11.56 ± 1.49 g/dL and 27.23 ± 116.39 μg/L, respectively. Low hemoglobin levels were identified in 58.2% of participants, while 43.3% exhibited depleted serum ferritin. A statistically significant difference in serum ferritin was observed between participants aged ≤17 years and those aged ≥18 years (P = 0.029), whereas hemoglobin levels showed no significant age-related variation. A moderate negative correlation was detected between hemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations (r = −0.435, P = 0.004). Conclusion: The findings demonstrate a high prevalence of low hemoglobin and depleted iron stores within this cohort, emphasizing the necessity of dual biomarker assessment. The unexpected inverse correlation warrants further multi-center investigation incorporating comprehensive inflammatory and iron-status markers.