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This research aims to evaluate the impact of ferritin reference ranges on the diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency at Denver Health.

December 8, 2025BloodOpen Access

Rethinking ferritin reference ranges for diagnosing iron deficiency at Denver health

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Retrospective study shows 51% of patients with iron deficiency are undertreated, indicating flaws in ferritin reference ranges.

This research aims to evaluate the impact of ferritin reference ranges on the diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency at Denver Health.
Retrospective analysis of adults (≥18) at Denver Health clinics with measured ferritin levels from 2020-2025.
Data extracted from electronic medical records included demographics, laboratory values, and treatment history.
Analyzed ferritin levels <5 µg/L and 5-30 µg/L to assess treatment patterns based on institutional thresholds.
5,982 patients with ferritin <30 were identified as meeting criteria for iron deficiency.
51% of patients received iron supplementation, with significant variation based on ferritin levels.
85.3% treated with ferritin <5 µg/L versus 43.5% treated with ferritin 5-30 (p<0.0001).
Females were treated 85.6% of the time if ferritin <5; only 41.8% if 5-30 (p<0.0001).

Connor et al. (2025) studied this question.

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