Work

Adolescent anaemia as a candidate marker of cardiometabolic vulnerability: A life-course preventive cardiology perspective

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Anaemia remains a major public health challenge among adolescents, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This narrative review evaluates adolescent anaemia as a candidate marker of cardiometabolic vulnerability within a life-course preventive cardiology framework. Targeted searches considered literature available through August 2026, distinguishing anaemia, iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia and separating direct adolescent evidence from adult and mechanistic extrapolation. Impaired oxygen delivery, iron-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction, altered glucose metabolism, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and reduced functional capacity provide biologically plausible pathways. Direct adolescent evidence mainly concerns short-term functional outcomes; prospective evidence linking adolescent anaemia with adult cardiometabolic disease remains limited. Iron-metabolic relationships may be nonlinear and bidirectional, while iron deficiency anaemia can alter glycated haemoglobin independently of glycaemia. Adult heart-failure trials support selected clinical benefits of intravenous iron, although contemporary outcome trials are mixed and mortality benefit remains uncertain. Shared nutritional, inflammatory and socioeconomic determinants may also explain observed associations. Current clinical implications include aetiological assessment and treatment of anaemia, nutritional optimisation, menstrual health evaluation, physical activity promotion and cardiovascular risk assessment guided by established age- and risk-based indications. Prospective adolescent cohorts and intervention studies are needed to establish incremental predictive value and determine whether aetiology-specific treatment improves long-term cardiometabolic outcomes. This framework connects anaemia care with broader adolescent health promotion while defining the evidence needed for future preventive cardiology applications.

Source: American Heart Journal Plus Cardiology Research and Practice

DOI: 10.1016/j.ahjo.2026.101002

Authors: D.S. Prasad, Sagarika Duggirala, Sailaja Duggirala, Revathi Devi Karuturi

Institution: Sudhir Heart Centre

Language: English

Topic: Iron Metabolism and Disorders

Subfield: Hematology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,810