A Retrospective Propensity-Matched Cohort Study of Intravenous Versus Oral Iron Formulations for Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Anemia in pregnancy detrimentally impacts maternal and fetal health. Previous research has demonstrated faster and more robust hemoglobin (Hb) increases with intravenous (IV) iron when compared to oral iron. We aimed to characterize additional clinical impacts of IV iron and, by exploring multiple iron formulations, this study seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of the effects, safety, and patient response to both treatment options. METHODS: A retrospective propensity-matched cohort analysis was performed using a large database (TriNetX Research Network) from January 2000 to November 2025. We identified pregnant patients aged ≥18 years with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in the second trimester with ferritin