Abbreviated report of a WHO consultationHome / Publications / Overview / Use of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in diagnosis of diabetes mellitus Overview Appropriate guidelines for measuring haemoglobin and defining anaemia are crucial for both clinical and public health medicine but require consideration of a range of complexities across different populations. The objective of this guideline is to provide updated, clear, evidence-informed normative statements on the use of haemoglobin concentrations to assess anaemia and on the best approaches in its measurement in individuals and populations. The purpose of the guideline is to ... The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 42% of children less than 5 years of age and 40% of pregnant women worldwide are anaemic. Iron deficiency, haemoglobinopathies and malaria are considered as the three top causes of anaemia globally. WHO has updated the specific ferritin thresholds used to diagnose iron deficiency and overload, in individuals with and without underlying medical conditions, using its rigorous methods for evidence-informed guideline development. Anaemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal . It mainly affects women and children.
