Anemia in pregnant women residing at different geographical altitudes in Arequipa, Peru

Purpose: To identify the frequency of anemia in pregnant women at different geographical altitudes in the Arequipa region of Peru. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive, and retrospective study was carried out. The study population consisted of 35,725 pregnant women living in the Arequipa Region at different altitudes. Data on age, gestational age, weight, height, province of residence, altitude, hemoglobin were collected. Results: Using World Health Organization altitude adjusted hemoglobin values, anemia prevalence in pregnant women between 2018-2019 was 13.7 % in the Arequipa Region, while using unadjusted hemoglobin, the overall prevalence was 4.1 %. When analyzed by altitudes, the frequency of anemia was 9.77 % below 1 000 m 13.1 % between 1 000-1 999 m, 13.1 % between 2.000-2.999 m, 31.5 % between 3.000-3.999 and 47.1 % between 4.000-4.999. Nevertheless, when using unadjusted hemoglobin values rates were 6.67 % for the 1.000-1.999 range, 2.39 % for ranges between 2.000-2.999 m and 3.000-3.999 m, and 5.19 % for altitudes above 4.000 m. Conclusions: There is a directly proportional correlation in the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women and higher altitude (p<0.01) as well as levels of anemia during the last trimester of pregnancy. Adjusting the hemoglobin values by altitude results in triple the prevalence of anemia. A throughout revision of the suitability of current guidelines to diagnose and prevent anemia at high altitude is recommended.