This document aims to provide users of the Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition
Information System (VMNIS) with information about the use of
haemoglobin concentration for diagnosing anaemia. It is a compilation of
current World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on the topic
and summarizes the cut-offs for defining anaemia and its severity at the
population level, as well as the chronology of their establishment.
The use of the cut-off points derived from the referenced publications
permits the identification of populations at greatest risk of anaemia and
priority areas for action, especially when resources are limited. They also
facilitate the monitoring and assessment of progress towards international
goals of preventing and controlling iron deficiency and further provide the
basis for advocacy for the prevention of anaemia.