Effectiveness and Safety of Ferric Carboxymaltose in Treating Iron Deficiency Anemia - A Prospective Study in Rural and Tribal India

Q: What was the primary objective of the study?

To assess the effectiveness of intravenous FCM infusion in iron deficiency anemia among rural and tribal women.

Q: How long were patients followed after FCM administration?

Patients were followed up at 6 weeks.

Q: What were the main findings regarding hemoglobin and tolerability?

At 6 weeks, hemoglobin increased significantly by 3.64 g/dL, other hematological parameters improved, and FCM was well tolerated.

Sep 30, 2026

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More than half of Indian rural women (pregnant and non‑pregnant) experience anemia, yet evidence on ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in rural and tribal settings remains limited. This prospective, open‑label observational single‑center study evaluated intravenous FCM in women with iron deficiency anemia, assessing hemoglobin and hematological changes from baseline and monitoring tolerability through 6 weeks. Fifty‑five completed follow‑up, showing a significant Hb rise of 3.64 g/dL and improvements in multiple hematological parameters with good tolerability.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Study Aims and Objectives

Materials and Methods

Results

Conclusions

Original Article Effectiveness and Safety of Ferric Carboxymaltose in Treating Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Prospective Study in Rural and Tribal India Abstract Introduction: More than half of Indian rural women (pregnant and non‑pregnant) are anemic. Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness and tolerability of ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in Indian rural and tribal women. Aims and Objectives: The primary objective was to assess the effectiveness of intravenous (IV) infusion of FCM in iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in rural and tribal women. Secondary objectives included evaluating changes in hematological parameters from baseline and assessing tolerability. Materials and Methods: A prospective, open‑label, observational, real‑world, single‑center study was conducted at Getwell Multispecialty Hospital, Manchar, Pune. Female patients with IDA (Pregnant: Hb 6 to <11 g/dL, non‑pregnant: Hb: 6 to <12 g/dl) were recruited. FCM was administered as an IV infusion, and patients were followed up at 6 weeks. Change in Hb, other haematological parameters from baseline were assessed. Adverse effects related to FCM were monitored. Results: Fifty‑five patients completed the study; 7.27% were pregnant and 92.73% were nonpregnant. A significant increase in Hb of 3.64 g/dL was recorded at 6 weeks. All pregnant women achieved the target Hb of 11 g/dL, whereas 58.82% of nonpregnant women reached 12 g/dL; there was a significant increase in hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and MCH concentration (P < 0.05 for all) as compared to baseline. FCM infusion was well tolerated. Conclusions: FCM IV infusion significantly increased Hb levels and other hematological parameters at 6 weeks. FCM appears to be an effective and well‑tolerated treatment for IDA in pregnant and non‑pregnant women in rural and tribal area. Keywords: Ferric carboxymaltose, hemoglobin improvement, intravenous iron therapy, iron deficiency anemia, pregnant women, rural and tribal women Introduction Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a major global health concern and has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the most prevalent nutritional deficiency worldwide.[1] Globally, IDA affects approximately 1.8 billion individuals, with India alone accounting for nearly 447 million cases, contributing a quarter of the global burden.[2,3] The condition affects individuals across all age groups, from adolescence to perimenopause in women, and is particularly exacerbated during pregnancy due to the increased nutritional demands of the growing fetus. The WHO estimates that IDA in women (Hb <12 g/dl) is directly or indirectly responsible for approximately 591,000 perinatal deaths and 115,000 maternal deaths each year. Nearly half of all global maternal deaths attributed to This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License (CC BY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. For reprints [contact:](contact: WKHLRPMedknow_reprints@wolterskluwer.com)[ WKHLRPMedknow_reprints@wolterskluwer.com](contact: WKHLRPMedknow_reprints@wolterskluwer.com) anemia occur in South Asia, with India accounting for approximately 80% of these cases. The high prevalence of anemia in India can be attributed to factors such as inadequate dietary iron intake, poor iron bioavailability, phytate‑rich diets, unhealthy eating patterns, chronic menstrual blood loss, and infections such as malaria and hookworm infestations. This situation is further compounded in rural and tribal areas, where access to effective treatments for IDA remains limited.[4] Current strategies for managing IDAin rural and tribal India include dietary interventions, iron supplementation programs, and fortification initiatives. While oral iron supplementati

FAQs

What was the primary objective of the study?

To assess the effectiveness of intravenous FCM infusion in iron deficiency anemia among rural and tribal women.

How long were patients followed after FCM administration?

Patients were followed up at 6 weeks.

What were the main findings regarding hemoglobin and tolerability?

At 6 weeks, hemoglobin increased significantly by 3.64 g/dL, other hematological parameters improved, and FCM was well tolerated.

Sep 30, 2026

Upload by CatatanPagi