Diagnosis and Treatment of Iron Deficiency and Anemia in Youth With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Objectives:Iron deficiency (ID) with and without anemia is prevalent in children and adults diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but often goes unrecognized. We hypothesized, quality improvement (QI) methodology could increase the screening for and treatment of ID in children newly diagnosed with IBD.Methods:We developed and implemented an easy‐to‐follow algorithm to facilitate screening for and treatment of ID for patients diagnosed with IBD. Through a series of Plan‐Do‐Study‐Act cycles, the approach was modified to increase screening and treatment of ID. Data between January 2019 and July 2021 were assessed using statistical process control.Results:Among patients newly diagnosed with IBD, 298 patients were included (67% Crohn disease, 29% ulcerative colitis, 4% indeterminate colitis, and 56% males). Rates of ID screening increased significantly from a baseline of 20% to >90%. Of the 232 patients screened for ID during the improvement period, 205 (88%) met criteria for either iron deficiency anemia (IDA) or ID at diagnosis, specifically, 151 (65%) met criteria for IDA and 54 (23%) met criteria for ID.Conclusions:Use of QI methodology to standardize screening assessments for ID among children newly diagnosed with IBD improved screening rates from a baseline of 20% to >90%, with 88% of patients found to have IDA or ID.