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Anaemia and Blood Disorders

GMJ News knowledge hub · last reviewed August 2026 · Georgian Medical Journal

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Anaemia — a reduction in the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood — affects approximately 2 billion people globally, making it the world's most prevalent nutritional disorder: 40% of children under 5, 37% of pregnant women and 30% of women of reproductive age are anaemic (WHO). Iron deficiency is responsible for approximately half of all anaemia — a largely preventable condition through dietary iron, fortification and supplementation. Sickle cell disease — the world's most common genetic blood disorder — affects approximately 300,000 children born each year, predominantly in Sub-Saharan Africa, and causes severe pain crises, organ damage and premature death.

Key messages

2 billion people
Anaemia affects approximately 2 billion people — nearly one quarter of the global population — making it the world's most prevalent nutritional disorder. It causes fatigue, impaired cognitive function, poor pregnancy outcomes and increased mortality (WHO).
Iron deficiency is the leading cause
Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) accounts for approximately 50% of all anaemia globally. It is the world's most common nutritional deficiency — affecting 40% of children under 5, 37% of pregnant women and 30% of women of reproductive age.
Sickle cell disease — 300,000 births/year
Sickle cell disease (SCD) — the world's most common genetic blood disorder — affects approximately 300,000 children born each year, 80% in Sub-Saharan Africa. It causes severe pain crises (vaso-occlusive episodes), organ damage, stroke and premature death.
Thalassaemia — the Mediterranean disease
Beta-thalassaemia major affects approximately 100,000 children born each year — predominantly in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and South Asian populations. It requires lifelong blood transfusions or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Hydroxyurea transforms sickle cell
Hydroxyurea — a cheap, WHO-essential medicine — reduces sickle cell crises, hospitalisations and mortality by approximately 50%. Yet the majority of SCD patients in LMICs have no access to it.
Gene therapy emerging
Gene therapy (betibeglogene autotemcel — Zynteglo; exagamglogene autotemcel — Casgevy, the first CRISPR-based therapy approved in humans) now offers curative potential for SCD and thalassaemia — but at extraordinary cost ($2-3.5 million per patient) inaccessible to the vast majority of affected families.

Key statistics

2B
people with anaemia globally
WHO
40%
of children under 5 are anaemic
WHO
37%
of pregnant women are anaemic
WHO
300K
SCD births per year
WHO
80%
of SCD births in Sub-Saharan Africa
WHO
~50%
IDA accounts for all anaemia
WHO

Anaemia prevalence by population group globally (%) — WHO Global Anaemia Data

Source: WHO. Pregnant women and children under 5 carry the highest anaemia burden.

Glossary of key terms

Anaemia
WHOA condition in which the haemoglobin concentration in the blood is below the reference range for age and sex. WHO thresholds: children <11 g/dL; non-pregnant women <12 g/dL; pregnant women <11 g/dL; men <13 g/dL. Causes: nutritional deficiency (iron, B12, folate); haemolytic conditions (SCD, thalassaemia); chronic disease; blood loss.
Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA)
WHOThe most common nutritional disorder globally — caused by insufficient dietary iron, poor absorption, blood loss (menstruation, parasitic infections) or increased demand (pregnancy). Treated with oral iron supplements (ferrous sulphate) and dietary iron (red meat, legumes, fortified foods).
Sickle cell disease (SCD)
WHOA hereditary haemoglobin disorder caused by the sickle cell mutation (HbS). Homozygous SCD (HbSS) causes sickling of red blood cells, vascular occlusion, haemolytic anaemia, acute pain crises, stroke, organ damage and infection susceptibility.
Beta-thalassaemia major
WHOA severe hereditary haemoglobin synthesis disorder requiring lifelong red blood cell transfusions every 3-4 weeks. Iron overload from transfusions causes organ damage (heart, liver, endocrine glands) requiring chelation therapy. HSCT or gene therapy are curative options.
Hydroxyurea
WHO EMLAn antineoplastic drug repurposed for sickle cell disease — the most impactful affordable SCD treatment. Increases fetal haemoglobin (HbF) production, which inhibits sickling. Reduces pain crises by ~50%, hospitalisations and mortality. WHO Essential Medicine. Severely underused in LMICs.
CRISPR gene therapy (Casgevy)
FDA/EMA 2023Exagamglogene autotemcel (Casgevy) — the first CRISPR-based gene therapy approved for clinical use (December 2023) for SCD and transfusion-dependent thalassaemia. Edits the BCL11A gene to re-activate fetal haemoglobin production. Curative in clinical trials; costs $2.2 million per patient.

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About this hub. Produced by the GMJ News Editorial Team as a public-good service. Every statistic is linked to its primary source. Documents are preserved in the GMJ Repository with full attribution. Georgian Medical Journal · Contact the editorial team
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