WHO haemoglobin cutoffs for anaemia
Haematology
Also known as: WHO anemia definition · WHO-Hämoglobin-Grenzwerte für Anämie · Anämie-Schweregrade (WHO) · DSÖ anemi hemoglobin eşikleri · WHO haemoglobin cut-offs for anaemia and its severity (2024)
What it is for
World Health Organization (WHO) haemoglobin (Hb) thresholds in g/L (the guideline adds separate adjustments for people living at altitude and for smokers). Values: anaemia below; mild / moderate / severe.
Classification
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Children 6–23 months | <105; mild 95–104, moderate 70–94, severe <70 (new 2024 group). |
| Children 24–59 months | <110; mild 100–109, moderate 70–99, severe <70. |
| Children 5–11 years | <115; mild 110–114, moderate 80–109, severe <80. |
| 12–14 years (girls and boys) | <120; mild 110–119, moderate 80–109, severe <80. |
| Non-pregnant women 15–65 years | <120; mild 110–119, moderate 80–109, severe <80. |
| Men 15–65 years | <130; mild 110–129, moderate 80–109, severe <80. |
| Pregnancy | first and third trimester <110 (mild 100–109, moderate 70–99, severe <70); second trimester <105 (mild 95–104, moderate 70–94, severe <70). |
| Note | the cut-offs are 5th percentiles of healthy reference populations; the severity bands follow the WHO 1989 method and were not changed. |
Source
Guideline on haemoglobin cutoffs to define anaemia in individuals and populations
WHO · World Health Organization, Geneva 2024 (ISBN 9789240088542)
- Edition
- WHO Guideline on haemoglobin cutoffs to define anaemia in individuals and populations (5 March 2024)
- Checked on
Summary of the published classification in our own words. Not a substitute for the original publication.
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