![Unhealthy Hemoglobin Levels]()
In a paper published in the April 13, 2016 online edition of the American Journal of Epidemiology, Geoffrey Kabat, Ph.D., Tom Rohan, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues report that women with mildly elevated or mildly depressed hemoglobin levels may be at increased risk of dying compared to women with more optimal hemoglobin levels. In an analysis of medical records from more than 160,000 participants in the Women’s Health Initiative, the authors found that having low levels of hemoglobin—yet still within the “normal” range—was associated with an increased risk of dying from any cause, as well as from coronary heart disease (CHD) and cancer. Conversely, women with higher levels of hemoglobin—also within the “normal” range—were at higher risk of dying from any cause, but were not at increased risk of CHD or cancer death. Importantly, the authors made efforts to control for pre-existing chronic diseases and exposures known to affect hemoglobin levels in order to isolate the effects of hemoglobin levels per se. The research points to the need to reassess what clinicians define as “healthy” hemoglobin levels. Dr. Kabat is senior epidemiologist in epidemiology & population health, and Dr. Rohan is professor and chair of the department.
Posted on: Wednesday, April 13, 2016