1 in 5 Irish People Carry The Haemochromatosis or ‘Iron Overload’ Gene

This week is World Haemochromatosis Awareness Week.

Despite being Ireland’s most common genetic condition, Haemochromatosis or ‘iron overload’, as it is also known, is not as widely known as some other genetic conditions. The Irish Haemochromatosis Association estimates there are at least 20,000 undiagnosed cases of Haemochromatosis in Ireland. Haemochromatosis is more common in Ireland than anywhere else in the world, as one in five people carry one copy of the gene and one in every 83 Irish people carry two copies of the gene, predisposing them to develop iron overload. This year, to mark World Haemochromatosis Awareness Week, 1st – 7th June 2022, the IHA aims to raise awareness of the condition and is urging people to ‘Get Checked for Haemochromatosis’ to highlight the symptoms in order to save lives, symptoms that range from chronic tiredness and joint pain, to abdominal pain and sexual dysfunction. Speaking with us today, Professor Suzanne Norris, Consultant in Hepatology and Gastroenterology at St. James’s Hospital says;

“Ireland has the highest rates of Haemochromatosis in the world. Ill-health from Haemochromatosis and the development of serious complications such as cirrhosis can be prevented by simple treatment and life expectancy in treated non-cirrhotic patients is normal. Early diagnosis is therefore critical.”

The Irish Haemochromatosis Association was established over 22 years ago. Volunteers and Ambassadors such as Mark Cagney, former RTE Presenter and Paul Harrington, musician, songwriter and former Eurovision songwriter winner, who both have Haemochromatosis, have promoted awareness of the disorder over many years. For more information on Haemochromatosis visit www.haemochromatosis-ir.com for more information or support and follow the IHA on Twitter or Facebook. Text ‘IRON’ to 50300 to donate €4.