Common symptoms in pregnancy and their correlations with anemia

Introduction Anemia is a common health problem that affects all age groups, yet it is particularly prevalent in women of reproductive age. Some symptoms of anemia may be misinterpreted as symptoms related to pregnancy. We aim to explore the association between common symptoms present during pregnancy and clinical anemia. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 187 women who were recruited during their pregnancy. Results A higher percentage of those who reported symptoms of anemia, such as tiredness and dizziness, were identified to have clinical anemia (20.7% in mildly anemic individuals and 10.0% in moderately anemic individuals, p = 0.023). Bloating (31.0% in mildly anemic individuals, 70.0% in moderately anemic individuals) and heartburn (17.0% in mildly anemic individuals) were also more common in mothers who experienced anemia during pregnancy. However, these differences did not reach statistical significance ( p = 0.65 and p = 0.052, respectively). Conclusion Self-perceived anemia symptoms were reported more frequently among pregnant individuals with clinical anemia. These findings suggest that when anemia symptoms are present, anemia screening should be performed whenever possible to confirm the presence of clinical anemia. This may facilitate early detection and intervention to mitigate the negative effects of anemia on the mother.