Borderline low hemoglobin levels, usually considered normal, linked to a higher risk of death
A large-scale study of over 500,000 adults suggests that hemoglobin levels slightly above WHO anemia thresholds are associated with lower mortality rates. The findings indicate a U-shaped relationship between blood health and long-term survival.
Why it matters
These findings may help clinicians better interpret borderline hemoglobin results and identify patients at higher risk for cardiovascular disease or cancer.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add as preferred source Credit: CC0 Public Domain A prospective cohort study found that adults whose hemoglobin levels were 1 to 3 g/dL above the World Health Organization's (WHO) current anemia thresholds had lower mortality compared with those whose hemoglobin levels were both below and above this range. While the findings do not warrant updated anemia thresholds, they do suggest that further investigation of borderline anemia is warranted. The study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine .
Researchers from the University of Glasgow evaluated the association between hemoglobin concentration and long-term mortality among 502,188 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank.
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