At what hemoglobin (Hb) level is severe anemia defined? (According to WHO)

Appeared in: Bihar CHO - 2021

Explanation

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines severe anemia as a hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of less than 7.0 g/dL in adults.
This level indicates a critically low oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
Patients with severe anemia are at high risk for life-threatening complications, such as high-output cardiac failure, and often require immediate medical intervention, including blood transfusions.

Option B: A hemoglobin level of less than 10 g/dL but greater than 7.0 g/dL is classified as moderate anemia, not severe.
Option C: A hemoglobin level of less than 2 g/dL is an extremely critical and often fatal level, but it is not the standard threshold for defining the category of severe anemia. Severe anemia is the classification that begins at <7.0 g/dL.
Option D: A hemoglobin level of more than 10 g/dL is generally considered mild anemia or within the normal range, depending on the patient's age, sex, and pregnancy status. It is the opposite of severe anemia.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain WHO classification of anemia by severity as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of severe anemia, which include profound pallor, tachycardia, dyspnea at rest, dizziness, and confusion, as these indicate tissue hypoxia.
When a patient's Hb level drops below 7 g/dL, the nurse should anticipate orders for a blood transfusion, including preparing for blood typing and cross-matching, and ensuring patent IV access.
Patient safety is paramount. A patient with severe anemia is a high fall risk due to potential dizziness and weakness. Nursing interventions should include assistance with ambulation and keeping necessary items within reach.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key components of the question: the parameter (hemoglobin level), the condition (severe anemia), and the authority (WHO).
This is a factual recall question that requires knowledge of specific clinical guidelines.
Recall the standard WHO classification for anemia severity.
Evaluate the given options against the known classification. The threshold for severe anemia is a critical value in clinical practice.
Eliminate options that are clearly incorrect. 'More than 10' is mild/normal, and 'Less than 2' is an extreme value, not a classification threshold.
Select the option that matches the established WHO definition for severe anemia, which is < 7.0 g/dL.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 PATHOLOGY QUICK REVIEWBased on Harsh Mohan Textbook of PATHOLOGY p. 97-99

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 158-160

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