Journal of Rawalpindi Medical College | 2026
Authors: Qamar S.; Rauf R.; Ejaz S.; Riaz B.; Iftikhar T.; Akhtar N.
DOI: 10.37939/jrmc.v30i1.3058
Journal: Journal of Rawalpindi Medical College
Year: 2026
Publisher: Rawalpindi Medical University
Document Type: Article
Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access
Cited by: 0
Objective: To assess the impact of iron status on fatigue levels in non-anemic female patients using the Fatigue Severity Scale. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Akhter Saeed Medical College, Farooq Hospital, and KRL Hospital, Islamabad, from 1st Oct 2023, to 30th Sept 2025. A total of 150 non-anaemic female patients (haemoglobin levels ≥12 g/dL in gynaecological patients and ≥11 g/dL in obstetric patients) were enrolled in the study after providing written informed consent. Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale pre-and post-treatment. The primary outcome was improvement in fatigue scores after iron infusion. All collected data were entered and analysed using SPSS version 25. Results: The baseline mean fatigue severity score was 50.96 ± 10.3 in pregnant women, which considerably decreased to 23.76 ± 6.12 after the intervention. Likewise, the baseline mean fatigue severity scale score was 52.12 ± 9 in gynaecological patients. After treatment, the level decreased to 23.42 ± 5.34. Both groups showed a marked drop in fatigue scores after the intervention, with similar results on the Fatigue Severity Scale. Conclusion: Even with normal haemoglobin levels, iron deficiency can lead to increased fatigue in women. When ferric carboxymaltose is administered to iron-deficient women, it efficiently decreases the severity of fatigue, highlighting the value of iron supplements in non-anaemic women with low iron stores. © 2026 Qamar et al.
anaemia; ferritin; haemoglobin; iron; iron deficiency