Vifor Pharma : THIRD GLOBAL IRON DEFICIENCY DAY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE SYMPTOMS OF IRON DEFICIENCY

• Iron Deficiency Day takes place annually on 26 November to highlight the impact of iron deficiency, an under-recognised and underdiagnosed condition even in up-to-date healthcare systems.

• This year's Iron Deficiency Day aims to help people recognise the many symptoms associated with this widespread, but neglected, health condition.

• A recently published expert review underscores the importance of consistent guidance to diagnose and treat iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia, in particular in the context of long term conditions.

THIS COMING SUNDAY IS IRON DEFICIENCY DAY, A DAY DEDICATED TO RECOGNISING THE MANY SYMPTOMS OF IRON DEFICIENCY, WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO), AFFECTS 30 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION. ONE OF THE MAIN BARRIERS PREVENTING SUCCESSFUL DIAGNOSIS IS SIMPLY RECOGNIZING THE SYMPTOMS OF IRON DEFICIENCY AND IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA TO BEGIN WITH.

Iron deficiency is a health-related condition in which iron availability is insufficient to meet the body's needs and which can be present with or without anaemia. Iron is essential for the healthy functioning of the whole body, including that of the heart, muscles and red blood cells. It is also important for optimum mental and physical health, and to keep energy levels up. The WHO recognises as much as a 30% reduction of physical work output and performance in iron-deficient men and women.

Despite its prevalence, many people do not recognize the symptoms of iron deficiency and obtaining a correct diagnosis is challenging.

Luisa Avedano, CEO of EFCCA (The European Federation of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Associations) commented: 'For people with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD), iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia are common problems. Symptoms such as persistent fatigue and lack of energy can have a significant impact on quality of life, so effective management of the iron levels is important as a part of the wider management of UC and CD. Iron Deficiency Day 2017 should help by prompting people to get checked if they suspect they may have any symptom of iron deficiency.'

With its accompanying international communication campaign featuring easily understood explanations of the various symptoms in approachable character form, Iron Deficiency Day 2017 aims to help people recognize the symptoms of iron deficiency. Symptoms suggesting iron deficiency are generally vague and can be associated with a number of clinical conditions. Symptoms highly suggestive of iron deficiency include generalized fatigue, often independent of anaemia, and ingestion of non-nutritive materials such as clay, dirt, paper, ice, and others (pica). Other common symptoms include brittle nails, hair loss, and restless legs syndrome.

Underlining another condition where iron deficiency can have a significant adverse impact, Nick Hartshorne-Evans, Founder and CEO of the Pumping Marvellous Foundation commented: 'Iron deficiency in conditions such as heart failure is a very serious and real problem. It seems according to recent research that as many as one in two people with heart failure may have iron deficiency. Events such as Iron Deficiency Day 2017 are important in raising awareness of iron deficiency and its impact.'

The tools available on irondeficiencyday.com include a new symptom browser, visual infographics and advice for people, encouraging them to discuss iron deficiency with their physician.

FURTHER INFORMATION

About Iron Deficiency Day 2017
It has been established that a relatively large portion of the population is not aware of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia. Even among those people who are aware of iron deficiency, some cannot recognise its symptoms. In light of the 3 Iron Deficiency Day, we reaffirm our ongoing commitment to raising awareness about iron deficiency and its debilitating symptoms, which have a significant impact on patients' well-being and quality of life and hence need to be properly diagnosed and addressed.

About iron deficiency
Iron deficiency affects one third of the world's population. Despite advancements in many healthcare systems across the globe, up to half of the child population under the age of five and 50% of pregnant women in the developing world are iron deficient. Iron deficiency impairs the cognitive development of children from infancy through to adolescence. It damages immune mechanisms and is associated with increased morbidity rates.

As well as being a nutritional problem in the developing world, iron deficiency occurs frequently in the developed world especially among women who suffer with heavy menstrual bleeding, the elderly and those with certain chronic diseases. Iron deficiency is estimated to affect 37-61% of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), 24-85% of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and 13-90% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Vifor Pharma Group, formerly Galenica Group, is a global specialty pharmaceuticals company. It aims to become the global leader in iron deficiency, nephrology and cardio-renal therapies. The company is the partner of choice for specialty pharmaceuticals and innovative patient-focused solutions. Vifor Pharma Group strives to help patients around the world with severe and chronic diseases lead better, healthier lives. The company develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for precision patient care. Vifor Pharma Group holds a leading position in all its core business activities and consists of the following companies: Vifor Pharma; Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma, a joint company with Fresenius Medical Care; Relypsa; and OM Pharma. Vifor Pharma Group is headquartered in Switzerland, and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange, VIFN, ISIN: CH0364749348). For more information, please visit www.viforpharma.com.

Vifor Pharma, a company of the Vifor Pharma Group, is a world leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of iron deficiency. The company also offers a diversified portfolio of prescription and non-prescription medicines. Vifor Pharma's operational headquarters are in Zurich, Switzerland, and the company has an increasingly global presence and a broad network of affiliates and partners around the world. For more information about Vifor Pharma, please visit www.viforpharma.com.

References

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