## WHO Hemoglobin Cutoffs for Anemia Diagnosis **Key Point:** The WHO defines anemia thresholds based on age, sex, and pregnancy status. These are the globally standardized diagnostic criteria used in epidemiological surveys and clinical practice. ### WHO Hemoglobin Cutoffs (g/dL) | Population | Cutoff (g/dL) | Note | |------------|---------------|------| | **Non-pregnant adult women** | **12.0** | Standard reference | | Adult men | 13.5 | Higher due to androgen effect | | Pregnant women | 11.0 | Physiological hemodilution | | Children 6–59 months | 11.0 | Age-adjusted | | Children 5–11 years | 11.5 | Age-adjusted | | Children 12–14 years | 12.0 | Approaching adult threshold | **High-Yield:** **Non-pregnant women: 12.0 g/dL** is the most frequently tested WHO criterion in NEET PG. ### Clinical Application **Mnemonic:** **WOMEN-12** = Non-pregnant women have Hb cutoff of 12.0 g/dL - Any Hb **< 12.0 g/dL** in a non-pregnant woman = anemia (by WHO definition) - Any Hb **≥ 12.0 g/dL** = normal (in non-pregnant women) ### Why These Thresholds? 1. **Sex difference**: Men have higher cutoff (13.5) because testosterone stimulates erythropoietin and RBC production 2. **Pregnancy**: Lower cutoff (11.0) accounts for physiological hemodilution and increased plasma volume 3. **Age**: Children have age-specific thresholds reflecting developmental changes in Hb concentration **Clinical Pearl:** In India, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) and Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) use WHO criteria. Prevalence of anemia in non-pregnant women is reported as % with Hb < 12.0 g/dL. ### Common Pitfalls - ~~11.5 g/dL~~ is the cutoff for **pregnant women**, not non-pregnant women - ~~13.0 g/dL~~ is close to the **male cutoff** (13.5 g/dL) but not the female cutoff - ~~10.5 g/dL~~ is too low and not a WHO standard cutoff 
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