Iron Deficiency at ICU Discharge

IRON-RECOVERY is a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study designed to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency at intensive care unit (ICU) discharge and to evaluate its association with post-ICU clinical recovery. Anemia is highly prevalent in critically ill patients and frequently persists after ICU discharge. Although inflammation-induced iron dysregulation is considered one of the main mechanisms underlying persistent anemia, iron deficiency remains largely under-recognized in this population because conventional biomarkers, particularly ferritin, are influenced by the inflammatory response. Transferrin saturation (TSAT) has emerged as a more reliable marker of iron availability and may better identify patients with iron-restricted erythropoiesis. Adult patients admitted to participating ICUs for at least 72 hours will undergo assessment of iron status at ICU disch