Iron Deficiency Risk Calculator

How to calculate Iron Deficiency Risk?

Risk is calculated by comparing Ferritin (stored iron) and Hemoglobin (functional iron) against sex-adjusted clinical thresholds.

Formula: Risk = f(Ferritin < 30 || (Hb < Sex_Coefficient))

Weighting Ferritin vs. Hemoglobin

Ferritin is a more sensitive early marker of iron depletion, whereas low Hemoglobin often indicates advanced iron deficiency anemia.

Using the calculator: an example

Example: A female user with 11.5 g/dL Hemoglobin and 25 ng/mL Ferritin.

Step-by-step calculation:

1. Identify sex-based Hb threshold (12.0 g/dL for females).
2. Check if Hb is below threshold (11.5 < 12.0 = True).
3. Check Ferritin stores (25 < 30 = True).
4. Result: High Risk due to both low stores and low hemoglobin.

Medical Disclaimer

This tool is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have normal hemoglobin and still be iron deficient?

Yes, this is called Non-Anemic Iron Deficiency (NAID), where your iron stores (ferritin) are low but your blood count remains normal.

Why do men and women have different thresholds?

Biological differences and menstrual blood loss result in different baseline normal ranges for hemoglobin between sexes.