NRNP 6540 Week 8 Quiz Knowledge Check 2022 / 2023

1 What would you prescribe for your older female patient diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia as first-line treatment? The first line of treatment for iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is oral iron therapy. Ferrous sulfate 325 mg (65 mg of elemental iron) twice or three times a day. More severe cases will require 100-200 mg of elemental iron. There are no guidelines with regards to dosage in older adults but studies revealed that lower doses achieved the same results with fewer side effects. QUESTION 2 Describe two ways that iron deficiency anemia can occur. Twenty seven percent of the population worldwide is affected by anemia. Sixty percent of the anemia cases in the world are caused by IDA. IDA occurs in two to five percent of postmenopausal women and adult men in developed countries. IDA can occur due to inadequate intake, decreased absorption, increased demand, or increased loss of iron. Decreased oral intake or inadequate diet, especially in older adults, can result in anemia. Inadequate nutrition like caloric and protein restriction results in decreased iron in the body. Helicobacter pylori infection can cause decreased iron absorption and can also cause micro erosion that leads to bleeding and may result in IDA.