What do systematic reviews say?

Parenteral iron vs oral iron

It is very uncertain whether parenteral iron changes mortality compared with oral iron (very low certainty).

• Iron therapy in anaemic adults without chronic kidney disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.49 [0.56, 3.94]
  6 studies · 1009 participants
  Very low

Parenteral iron vs oral iron

It is very uncertain whether parenteral iron changes proportion requiring blood transfusion compared with oral iron (very low certainty).

• Iron therapy in anaemic adults without chronic kidney disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.61 [0.24, 1.58]
  2 studies · 371 participants
  Very low

Parenteral iron vs oral iron

• Iron therapy in anaemic adults without chronic kidney disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 44 participants
  Very low

Parenteral iron vs oral iron

• Iron therapy in anaemic adults without chronic kidney disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  6 studies · 769 participants
  Low

Parenteral iron vs oral iron

• Iron therapy in anaemic adults without chronic kidney disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 771 participants
  Very low

Parenteral iron vs oral iron

It is very uncertain whether parenteral iron changes serious adverse events compared with oral iron (very low certainty).

• Iron therapy in anaemic adults without chronic kidney disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.23 [0.99, 1.54]
  7 studies · 1100 participants
  Very low

Parenteral iron vs inactive control

• Iron therapy in anaemic adults without chronic kidney disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 1629 participants
  Very low

Parenteral iron vs inactive control

It is very uncertain whether parenteral iron changes serious adverse events compared with inactive control (very low certainty).

• Iron therapy in anaemic adults without chronic kidney disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1 [0.74, 1.34]
  7 studies · 1802 participants
  Very low

Parenteral iron vs inactive control

It is very uncertain whether parenteral iron changes mortality compared with inactive control (very low certainty).

• Iron therapy in anaemic adults without chronic kidney disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.04 [0.63, 1.69]
  10 studies · 2141 participants
  Very low

Parenteral iron vs inactive control

It is very uncertain whether parenteral iron changes proportion requiring blood transfusion compared with inactive control (very low certainty).

• Iron therapy in anaemic adults without chronic kidney disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.84 [0.66, 1.06]
  8 studies · 1315 participants
  Very low

Parenteral iron vs inactive control

• Iron therapy in anaemic adults without chronic kidney disease 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  9 studies · 1371 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

The intervention probably leads to lower low Hb deferral ‐ at first donation visit after commencement of… (moderate certainty).

• Oral or parenteral iron supplementation to reduce deferral, iron deficiency and/or anaemia in blood donors 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.34 [0.21, 0.55]
  4 studies · 1194 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

The intervention probably leads to lower low Hb deferral ‐ after multiple donation visits (moderate certainty).

• Oral or parenteral iron supplementation to reduce deferral, iron deficiency and/or anaemia in blood donors 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.25 [0.15, 0.41]
  3 studies · 793 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

• Oral or parenteral iron supplementation to reduce deferral, iron deficiency and/or anaemia in blood donors 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  8 studies · 847 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

• Oral or parenteral iron supplementation to reduce deferral, iron deficiency and/or anaemia in blood donors 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 406 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

• Oral or parenteral iron supplementation to reduce deferral, iron deficiency and/or anaemia in blood donors 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 640 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

• Oral or parenteral iron supplementation to reduce deferral, iron deficiency and/or anaemia in blood donors 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 619 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

The intervention probably leads to higher adverse effects (any) (moderate certainty).

• Oral or parenteral iron supplementation to reduce deferral, iron deficiency and/or anaemia in blood donors 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.6 [1.23, 2.07]
  4 studies · 1748 participants
  Moderate