Appropriateness of the study of iron deficiency anemia prior to referral for small bowel evaluation at a tertiary center

Table 1 Clinical characteristics of patients referred to gastroenterology department for iron deficiency anemia study n (%)

Characteristics	Total (n = 77)
Age, yr (mean ± SD)	67.1 ± 16.7
Female	45 (58.4)
Provenience
General Practice	41 (53.2)
Hospital Specialties	32 (41.6)
Hematology	13 (16.9)
Internal Medicine	6 (7.8)
Cardiology	5 (6.5)
Nephrology	5 (6.5)
Pneumology	1 (1.3)
General Surgery	1 (1.3)
Cardiothoracic Surgery	1 (1.3)
Emergency Department	4 (5.2)
Hemoglobin, g/dL (mean ± SD)	8.8 ± 2.0
Microcytosis	55 (71.4)
Hypochromia	56 (72.7)

IDA: Iron deficiency anemia.