Rate Of Iron Deficiency Anemia Research Articles

Knowledge of Pregnant Women on Gestational Anemia Attending Primary Healthcare Institutions in Oman

Purpose: It is well known that anemia is one of the medical problems during pregnancy and it can be encountered through health education. However, the rate of iron deficiency anemia is increasing among pregnant women. This study sought to find the knowledge of pregnant women who were attending primary healthcare institutions in Oman regarding gestational anemia. Also to find out if there is an association between demographic data and women’s knowledge about gestational anemia during pregnancy.
 Methodology: This study used a quantitative study, descriptive cross-sectional design. The researchers selected five primary healthcare institutions (Antenatal Clinics) in Sohar Wilayate in North Batinah Governorate in Oman to reach pregnant women who had been diagnosed with anemia. The data was collected via a questionnaire including two sections: participants’ sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge sections with 235 participants. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.72 and measured in different studies.
 Findings: The results of this study showed that women in Oman had lack of knowledge regarding many aspects related to gestational anemia. For example, they did not know about the signs and symptoms, nutrition that prevent anemia, and the effect of anemia on pregnancy outcomes. Data also showed that knowledge was significantly associated among pregnant women who were above 40, highly educated, working, and multigravida.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Knowing pregnant women's knowledge regarding gestational anemia could help the policymakers in the Ministry of Health formulate the best approach to offer health education and services for pregnant women with gestational anemia in Oman. This study came with many recommendations regarding knowledge, practice, and policy. Programs related to gestational anemia should be implemented to inform healthcare professionals, women, and their families about Iron deficiency anemia. Also, gestational anemia policy and guidelines are needed in healthcare institutions, and all healthcare professionals should be informed of the policy regularly. Healthcare professionals should be trained to educate and support women with gestational anemia during the antenatal and postnatal periods.

Профілактика ускладнень перебігу вагітності та пологів у жінок із лейоміомою матки

Purpose - to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the proposed preventive and therapeutic complex using modern drugs and organ-preserving methods of surgical treatment in pregnant women with uterine leiomyoma FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) type 3-6. Materials and methods. This prospective study was conducted with a comprehensive examination, selection of optimal tactics for pregnancy management and delivery in 70 pregnant women with uterine leiomyoma using the complex developed by us (main group), 41 pregnant women with uterine leiomyoma with standard pregnancy management (comparison group) and 50 pregnant women without uterine leiomyomas in the II-III trimesters of pregnancy and after childbirth at 4 clinical bases of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No. 1 of the Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine for 3 years - 2020-2023. Results. 70 pregnant women of the main group, who used the treatment and prevention complex developed by us, had significantly lower rates of iron deficiency anemia, the frequency of the threat of premature birth, fetal distress, and hypotonic labor compared to the comparison group and approached the rates of the control group (p<0.05). A 1.8-fold decrease in the risk of premature birth among women in the main group was also noted, as well as a 1.3-fold decrease in the cesarean section rate. PPH volume during vaginal delivery and cesarean section in the main group was significantly lower compared to the comparison group (p<0.01) and had no statistical difference with the control group (p>0.05). Conclusions. Pregnant women with uterine leiomyoma have an increased risk of iron-deficiency anemia, the threat of premature birth, weakness in labor, fetal distress, cesarean section, and PPH development. The treatment and prevention complex proposed by us and the optimal technique for performing cesarean sections allowed not only to reduce the frequency of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, but also to reduce the rate of PPH and reduce the indicators of maternal morbidity. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.

Frequency of iron deficiency anemia among children with poor appetite complaint

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in children causes both mental and psychomotor impairment. This study was planned to investigate the frequency of iron deficiency anemia in children with poor appetite. Complete blood count and ferritin values of children admitted to the pediatric outpatient clinic due to poor appetite were analyzed retrospectively. Cases with a hemoglobin (Hgb) value below -2 SD and a ferritin level below 12 ng/ml according to the age group were considered as IDA. Four hundred and twenty-eight children aged between 6 months and 18 years were evaluated. 210 (49.06%) and 218 (50.94%) of children were male and female, respectively. Children were examined in four groups according to their age: 1) 6 months-2 years (n=193), 2) 3-6 years (n=142), 3) 7-11 years (n=67) and 4) 12-17 years (n=26). Children were divided into three groups according to their ferritin values: Group 1: ≥12 ng/ml (n=299), Group 2: between 6-12 ng/ml (n=95) and Group 3: ≤6 ng/ml (n=34). The rate of IDA was found to be 28.2% in children with a ferritin value of ≤12 ng/ml. The relationship between age and gender to the frequency of anemia was not statistically significant (p≥0.05). IDA is a common hematological disorder that can be seen at any age, especially in children aged 6-36 months. In children with poor appetite, the presence of iron deficiency should be investigated.

Extra-Gastroduodenal Manifestation and Helicobacter pyloriInfection.

Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) which are known as Gram-negative bacteria tend to selectively colonize in the gastric epithelium. The infiltration of neutrophilic and mononuclear cells in the antrum and corpus mucosa is one of the consequences of acute and chronic gastritis colonization with H. pylori. This chronic active gastritis is the primary condition related to H. pylori colonization, and other H. pylori-associated disorders result from this chronic inflammatory process. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between H. pylori infection and extra-gastroduodenal manifestations, such as iron deficiency anemia, chronic spontaneous urticarial, diabetes mellitus, and celiac diseases with low ferritin levels. There were 235 subjects aged 3-75 years in the patient's group. The selected eligible patients were subjected to examination by non-invasive methods using stool antigen test and 14C-urea breath test (14C-UBT). TheH. pyloriantigen rapid test cassette (feces) was used for the qualitative detection ofH. pyloriantigens in human feces specimens. In the present study, 183 (71.8%) patients demonstrated positive results for H. pylori which had been detected by stool antigen test, out of whom 106 (57.9%) and 77 (42.1%) cases were female and male, respectively. The recorded data pointed out that the rates of Iron deficiency anemia, diabetes mellitus, and celiac diseases were 92(50.3%), 62 (33.9%), and 25 (13.7%), respectively. The findings of the present study revealed that H. pylori is more prevalent in females. Moreover, the diagnostic potential of the 14C UBT method was higher and more accurate than the stool antigen assay.

A Feasibility Study of a Novel Delayed Cord Clamping Cart.

Delaying umbilical cord clamping (DCC) for 1 min or longer following a neonate’s birth has now been recommended for preterm and term newborns by multiple professional organizations. DCC has been shown to decrease rates of iron deficiency anemia, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and blood transfusion. Despite these benefits, clinicians typically cut the umbilical cord without delay in neonates requiring resuscitation and move them to a radiant warmer for further care; this effectively prevents these patients from receiving any benefits from DCC. This study evaluated the feasibility of a delayed cord clamping cart (DCCC) in low-risk neonates born via Cesarean section (CS). The DCCC is a small, sterile cart designed to facilitate neonatal resuscitation while the umbilical cord remains intact. The cart is cantilevered over the operating room (OR) table during a CS, allowing the patient to be placed onto it immediately after birth. For this study, a sample of 20 low-risk CS cases were chosen from the non-emergency Labor and Delivery surgical case list. The DCCC was utilized for 1 min of DCC in all neonates. The data collected included direct observation by research team members, recorded debriefings and surveys of clinicians as well as surveys of patients. Forty-four care team members participated in written surveys; of these, 16 (36%) were very satisfied, 12 (27%) satisfied, 13 (30%) neutral, and 3 (7%) were somewhat dissatisfied with use of the DCCC in the OR. Feedback was collected from all 20 patients, with 18 (90%) reporting that they felt safe with the device in use. This study provides support that utilizing a DCCC can facilitate DCC with an intact umbilical cord.

Vitamin D and iron status in children with food allergy

BackgroundChildren with food allergy are at specific risk for nutritional deficiencies. ObjectiveTo retrospectively determine prevalence of vitamin D and iron deficiencies in children with or without food allergy (FA). MethodsWe compared the markers of vitamin D and iron status of 0 to 17-year-olds with cow’s milk allergy (CMA) (n = 77), those with other FAs (n = 70), and those with atopy without FA (n = 87) at an academic pediatric allergy practice. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the impact of CMA and other FAs on vitamin D levels and iron markers. ResultsVitamin D deficiency was detected in one-fourth and insufficiency in one-third of children with CMA and other FAs and in those with atopic diseases but no FA, respectively. Vitamin D levels were associated with vitamin D supplementation and consumption of breast milk, cow’s milk, infant formula, or plant-based milk beverage, but not with CMA or other FAs. Older children with FA who did not consume any cow’s milk or alternative milk beverage were at highest risk for vitamin D insufficiency. Children with CMA have a higher rate of iron deficiency anemia (8%) than children with other FAs (1%) or those with no FA (5%, P < .001); however, suboptimal levels of transferrin saturation and iron were detected in up to one-third of children with CMA or other FAs. ConclusionVitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is common in children with atopy overall, but children with CMA are at higher risk for iron deficiency anemia. Intensive nutritional counseling and nutrient intake monitoring, specifically for vitamin D and iron in those avoiding cow’s milk, are necessary to optimize nutritional status.

Burden of nutritional deficiencies of children under 5 years old in China, 1990-2015

To quantify and describe the distribution and trends of burden of nutritional deficiencies among children under 5 years old in China from 1990 to 2015. Subnational data of China on children under 5 years old in 33 provinces and autonomous regions, which including 31 mainland regions, Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, were extracted from the result of Global Burden of Disease Study 2015(GBD 2015). Based on the method of descriptive epidemiology, we analyzed the prevalence, mortality as well as disability adjusted life year(DALY) rate of nutritional deficiencies among children under 5 years old by sex, time and locations in China, as well as its temporal trend since 1990. In 2015, the prevalence of nutritional deficiencies among children under 5 years old was 17. 26%, and the DALY rate was 776. 26 person-years per 100000. Compared to 1990, the DALY rate of nutritional deficiencies declined by 71. 42%. The DALY rate of nutritional deficiencies decreased in the past 25 years in Eastern, Central and Western China. Meanwhile, the gap in disease burden between boys and girls declined. Among diseases caused by nutritional deficiencies, burden of protein-energy malnutrition and iron deficiency anemia among children under 5 years old were relatively higher. Compared to 1990, the DALY rate of iron deficiency anemia among children under 5 years old declined by 15. 68%, which was lower than other nutritional deficiencies among children in 2015. From 1990 to 2015, the disease burden caused by nutritional deficiencies among Chinese children under 5 years old showed downtrend. There were still differences of disease burden distributions between regions and common nutritional deficiencies.

Hospital-Based Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia among Pre-School Children in Dubai.

Introduction: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is an internationally recognized leading cause of disability and contributes to childhood morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of IDA is higher in developing countries, especially in Arab countries, compared to the west.Methods: To assess the prevalence of IDA, we analyzed the data of children aged between one to five years seen at Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Group’s tertiary care hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 2016 to 2018.Results: We found a high occurrence of IDA in male children and non-Emirati children.Conclusion: Appropriate screening and iron supplementation are required to see a decline in the rate of IDA. Further nationwide studies are required to identify the highly prevalent and high-risk areas of IDA in the UAE.

Estimation of hemoglobin for screening of anemia in undergraduate students in Hyderabad city, India

Background: Anemia is a condition that is marked by low levels of hemoglobin in the blood. Iron is a key component of hemoglobin, and iron deficiency is estimated to be responsible for half of all anemia globally. The present study was conducted to find out the prevalence of anemia among undergraduate students of (17-21 years) in Hyderabad city, India.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in different UG colleges in urban areas of Hyderabad for 3 months and a total 57 women participants were selected to volunteer study. All participants underwent screening using anthropometry with haemoglobin estimation using Sahli’s method. The 24-hour dietary recall was also recorded and analysed to assess the nutritional adequacy of the diet.Results: Prevalence rate of iron deficiency anemia was found to be 57.89 per cent, of the total 54.38 per cent were mild anemic and 3.51 percent were moderately anemic. Conclusions: Nutritional anaemia is one of the most preventable forms of anaemia if resources available individualize therapy focusing on the confluence of various causative factors should be implemented.

27 UTILIZATION OF AN ELECTONIC MEDICAL RECORD (EMR)-INTEGRATED DASHBOARD IMPROVES IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF IRON DEFICIENCY IN PEDIATRIC INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

Abstract Background Anemia is frequently encountered in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with studies reporting an even greater prevalence among children (16–72%) than adults (4–67%) at any given time during disease course. Anemia is commonly a result of chronic iron deficiency (ID) and inflammation, with the two conditions often overlapping. Many studies have shown that gastroenterologists underecognize and undertreat these conditions. Moreover, there are currently no pediatric-specific guidelines. To align clinical practice with adult guideline recommendations and evidence-based publications, we developed a quality improvement (QI) initiative incorporating an algorithmic framework for recognition and treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in pediatric IBD. Methods The goals were twofold: improvement in 1) detection and 2) treatment rates of IDA in IBD patients. A multifaceted approach with a series of plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles was executed: 1. Public review of our current performance of anemia screening and treatment with all divisional providers (n=60) (11/2017), 2. Development of a new divisional clinical pathway for screening and treatment of IDA in patients with IBD (01/2018), 3. Educational sessions (02-04/2018), 4. Creation of an Epic order set and patient and family education (PFE) (02/2018), 5. Online availability of our pathway (11/2018), and 6. Utilization of an electronic medical record (EMR)-integrated dashboard to track our outcome metrics. A designated coordinator identified patients in the EMR and sent monthly reports to providers based on our automated dashboard which captured the percentage of patients with ordered hemoglobin (Hb) and ferritin, percentage of patients with anemia and/or iron deficiency, and percentage of patients with ordered iron therapy. Baseline data from July 2016 were compared to data after pathway implementation. Results In the pre-intervention period (July 2016-November 2017), 73.5% of our outpatient IBD population had a Hb ordered, with anemia prevalence of 36.3%. Only a minority of patients with anemia were being screened for ID (19.3%). Iron supplementation was prescribed in 38.1% of patients with documented anemia. Following the implementation of this QI initiative, rate of patients with biannual Hb testing completed increased to 80.1%, while prevalence of anemia decreased to 32.1%. Significant improvement was observed with screening and treatment rate increasing to 43.1% and 50.4% respectively by July 2019 as shown in Fig. 1–2. Notably, patients with moderate to severe anemia improved significantly from 48.7% to 62.1%. Conclusion ID and anemia are commonly underdiagnosed and undertreated in children with IBD. An evidence and expert based pathway combined with implementation of provider-based monthly reports using the EMR to support clinical decision may help increase screening and intervention and decrease rates of anemia prevalence. https://www.chop.edu/clinical-pathway

Профилактика и лечение железодефицитной анемии в практике акушера-гинеколога

The prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is steadily increasing. IDA is more common in women of reproductive age, pregnant women, and adolescent girls thus accounting for the importance of this issue in obstetrics and gynecology. Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is one of the most common causes of IDA both in the puberty and reproductive period which requires hemostasis as well as addressing iron deficiency. A high rate of IDA was also reported in women with pelvic inflammatory diseases; this should considered when managing this large group of gynecological patients. The treatment for anemia or latent iron deficiency is performed for a long time, therefore, the selection of a medication is particularly important. Peroral Tardyferon® containing 80 mg of iron meets all modern-day requirements for anti-anemic drugs and is recommended for anemia resulting from AUB both in women of reproductive age and adolescent girls. Case studies illustrate high efficacy and good tolerability of this medication. KEYWORDS: iron-deficiency anemia, pregnancy, abnormal uterine bleeding in puberty, heavy menstrual bleeding, genital inflammation, high efficacy, compliance. FOR CITATION: Selikhova М.S., Soltys P.A., Kalacheva L.S. Prevention and treatment for iron-deficiency anemia in obstetrical gynecological practice. Russian Journal of Woman and Child Health. 2020;3(4):276–281. DOI: 10.32364/2618-8430-2020-3-4-276-281.

Efficacy of iron sulfate with ascorbic acid in pregnant women with iron deficiency of varying degrees of severity

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the most common diseases in the world, characterized by hemoglobin synthesis disorder due to iron deficiency and manifested by anemia. According to WHO, the rate of IDA in pregnant women in different countries ranges from 21 to 80%, judging by the level of hemoglobin, and from 49 to 99% - by serum iron. Lack of treatment of iron-deficient pregnant women with varying degrees of iron deficiency leads to an increase in the frequency of complicated pregnancy, such as the threat of termination of pregnancy, placental insufficiency, delay in intrauterine development and hypoxia of the fetus, premature delivery, poor uterine contraction strength, pathological bleeding, infectious complications. Aim of the study: study of the efficacy of the drug containing iron sulfate (Ferrous sulfate) and ascorbic acid in pregnant women with latent and manifest forms of iron deficiency. Patients and methods: 66 pregnant women were examined. Group 1 consisted of 36 pregnant women with latent iron deficiency, Group 2–30 pregnant women with manifest iron deficiency and moderate anemia. Pregnant women in the 1st group were prescribed the drug only for 1 month due to the fact that there were no manifestations of anemia in this category of patients. Blood parameters were monitored dynamically after 1 month of treatment and after 2 months, which means after 1 month of absence of the drug intake. Patients of the 2nd group received treatment during 2 months, dynamic treatment after laboratory parameters was carried out after 1 and 2 months of treatment. Results of the study. Analyzing the data obtained, it was found that all laboratory parameters differ significantly from those before treatment. Pregnant women of the 1st group have no reliable changes between the parameters after 1 and 2 months of observations, as during this period the patients did not receive iron medication. And even a slight decrease in some indicators is noted, but when compared with laboratory data before treatment, the results differ significantly. Conclusion: Ferrous sulfate and ascorbic acid can be recommended to compensate iron deficiency in pregnant women with LID to prevent the development of anemia, in patients with MID to treat anemia and prevent the development of possible complications in pregnant women associated with this condition. Thus, earlier detection and elimination of LID leads to prevention of anemia later on.

Comparison of adult spinal deformity patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis undergoing primary non-cervical spinal fusion surgery: a nationwide analysis of 52,818 patients

Background ContextNumerous studies have analyzed the impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on the cervical spine and its related surgical interventions. However, there is a paucity of literature available conducting the same analyses in patients with non-cervical spine involvement. PurposeThe objective of this study was to compare patient characteristics, comorbidities, and complications in patients with and without RA undergoing primary non-cervical spinal fusions. Study Design/SettingThis is a retrospective national database review. Patient SampleA total of 52,818 patients with adult spinal deformity undergoing non-cervical spinal fusions (1,814 patients with RA and 51,004 patients without RA). Outcome MeasuresThe outcome measures in the study include patient characteristics, as well as complication and mortality rates. Materials and MethodsUsing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2003 to 2014, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnosis and procedure codes were used to identify patients aged ≥18 years old with and without RA undergoing primary non-cervical spinal fusions. Univariate analysis was used to determine patient characteristics, comorbidities, and complication values for each group. Bivariate analysis was used to compare the two groups. Significance was set at p<.05. ResultsPatients with RA were older (p<.001), were more likely to be women (p<.001), had increased rates of osteoporosis (p<.001), had a greater percentage of their surgeries reimbursed by Medicare (p<.001), and more often had weekend admissions (p=.014). There was no difference in all the other characteristics. Patients with RA had higher rates of iron deficiency anemia, congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, depression, and fluid and electrolyte disorders (all, p<.001). Patients without RA had higher rates of alcohol abuse (p=.027). There was no difference in all the other complications. There was no difference in mortality rate (p=.99). Total complications were greater in patients with RA (p<.001). Patients with RA had higher rates of infection (p=.032), implant-related complications (p=.010), incidental durotomies (p=.001), and urinary tract infections (p<.001). No difference existed among the other complications. ConclusionsPatients with RA have an increased number of comorbidities and complication rates compared with patients without RA. Such knowledge can help surgeons and patients with RA have beneficial preoperative discussions regarding outcomes.

Diagnosis of anemia in populations at high altitudes

Iron deficiency and overload are risk factors for numerous poor health outcomes, and thus the maintenance of iron homeostasis is vital. Considering that hemoglobin contains 70% of the total iron in the body, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the measurement of iron levels to calculate the rate of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), although WHO recognizes that IDA is not the only cause of anemia. As hemoglobin increases with altitude, WHO recommends correcting the cut-off point to define anemia at high altitudes. An objection to this correction is that the increase in hemoglobin at high altitudes is not universal and is not linear. In addition, individuals in older age groups have lower hemoglobin levels than those in younger age groups. In infants, children, pregnant women, and adults, the prevalence of anemia using corrected hemoglobin is 3-5 times higher than that using markers of iron status. State programs seek to control anemia by means of iron supplementation. However, these programs are ineffective, particularly for high-altitude populations. Therefore, the occurrence of iron deficiency at high altitudes is controversial. The serum levels of the hormone hepcidin, which regulates iron availability, are similar in individuals at high altitudes to those of individuals at sea level, indicating that iron deficiency does not occur at high altitudes. An additional problem when correcting hemoglobin at high altitudes is that the frequency of erythrocytosis is decreased. In conclusion, the correction of the cut-off point of hemoglobin at high altitudes to determine iron deficiency is inadequate.

Feeding difficulties are not associated with higher rates of iron deficiency anemia in Brazilian children and adolescents\u2014cross-sectional study

BackgroundIron deficiency anemia and feeding difficulties (FD) are common issues in childhood, reinforcing the concern about the risk of micronutrient deficiencies. FD do not necessarily reflect nutritional deficiencies, since they may or may not relate to specific nutrient sources. The objective of the study is to describe the prevalence of iron depletion and iron deficiency anemia in children with FD and to seek associations with diagnosis and its markers.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study with 68 patients (convenience sample). The following data were assessed through medical records: age (months), gender, exclusive breastfeeding duration (months), birth weight (kg), iron supplementation, hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, repertory of foods consumed (food inventory and 3-day food record analysis), and diagnosis of FD. Data were classified according to references for age and were analyzed using correlation tests, Student’s t test, ANOVA and chi-square test, or its nonparametric equivalents. A significance level of 5% was considered.ResultsIron depletion and anemia were identified in 10.1 and 6% of children, respectively. Picky eating was diagnosed in 35.3%. Food repertory consisted on average of 21 foods, with null correlation to Hb and ferritin. The average fortified milk intake was 517 ml/day, with null correlation to Hb. There was no effect of diagnosis of FD on Hb (p = 0.18) or ferritin (p = 0.52). The same was verified in the children without supplementation, to both Hb (p = 0.54) and ferritin (p = 0.08).ConclusionsNo evidence of association between diagnosis of FD or repertory of foods to anemia or iron depletion was found, which could be a reassuring factor for caregivers. Reproduction in large scale as well as inclusion of dietary intake variables is suggested for further research.

Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnant Women of District Mardan, Pakistan

Background: Iron depletion is the most common nutrient deficiency worldwide and is the leading cause of anemia. Anaemia in pregnancy is a common clinical problem contributing to increased maternal and foetal morbidity. Previously few studies have highlighted this problem in developing country like Pakistan but the situation needs further exploration in pregnant women of less developed areas. The current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among pregnant women of district Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. Methods: The study consisted of 300 pregnant women in the age group (18-40) years. Blood samples were collected from each pregnant woman and a questionnaire was completed at the time of blood collection. Hematological and biochemical profiles were determined and the collected data was analyzed using SPSS. Results: In the current study the overall prevalence rate of iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women was (76.7%). Iron deficiency anemia was most prevalent in the second trimester (45.7%) as compared to first (16.1%) and third (38.2%) trimester pregnancy. Of the anemic cases, 42.6% have low iron stores and 43.5% have serum ferritin in a range of 12-30 ng/ml. In 60% of cases CRP was raised and 72.2% were multiparous. Of the study population, 65% were uneducated and 87% belonged to lower middle class. Conclusion: This study concluded that anemia is highly prevalent among the antenatal women of this area and iron deficiency considered to the culprit behind this disease. Multiparty, low socio-economic status and low education are the contributory factors of iron deficiency anemia. There is a great need for further health education promotional programs to improve heath of pregnant women.

Age of introduction of first complementary feeding for infants: a systematic review.

BackgroundDespite a World Health Organization recommendation for exclusive breastfeeding of all full-term infants to 6 months of age, it is not clear what the health implications may be. Breast milk alone may not meet the nutrition needs for all growing infants, leaving them at risk for deficiencies. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between moderate (4 months) versus late (6 months) introduction of complementary foods to the full-term breastfed infant on iron status and growth.MethodsAn electronic search of peer-reviewed and gray-literature was conducted for randomized control trials (RCTs) and observational studies related to the timing of introduction of complementary foods. Iron status and growth data from the relevant RCTs were analyzed using RevMan 5.2.11.ResultsThree RCTs and one observational study met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis showed significantly higher hemoglobin levels in infants fed solids at 4 months versus those fed solids at 6 months in developing countries [mean difference [MD]: 5.0 g/L; 95 % CI: 1.5, 8.5 g/L; P = 0.005]. Meta-anaysis also showed higher serum ferritin levels in the 4-month group in both developed and developing countries [MD: 26.0 μg/L; 95 % CI: -0.1, 52.1 μg/L, P = 0.050], [MD: 18.9 μg/L; 95 % CI: 0.7, 37.1 μg/L, P = 0.040]. Short follow-up periods and small sample sizes of the included studies were the major limitations.ConclusionsRCT evidence suggests the rate of iron deficiency anemia in breastfed infants could be positively altered by introduction of solids at 4 months.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12887-015-0409-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Relationship Between Iron Deficiency and Febrile Convulsion: A Case-Control Study.

Introduction:Febrile seizure is among the most common convulsion disorders in children, which strikes 2% to 5% of children between 3 to 60 months of age. Some studies have reported that iron deficiency could be a risk factor for febrile seizure. The present study was conducted to compare the rate of iron deficiency anemia in febrile children with and without seizure.Materials and Methods:This case-control study evaluated 200 children aged 6-60 month in two 100 person groups (febrile seizure and febrile without convulsion) in Kashan. The CBC diff, serum iron and TIBC were done for all of participants. Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia based on mentioned tests.Results:No significant differences were found in two groups regarding to the age, gender, and the disease causing the fever. The presence of iron deficiency anemia was 45% in the convulsion group and 22% in the group with fever without convulsion. The Chi Square test indicated a significant difference between two groups.Conclusions:The findings suggest that a considerable percentage of children having febrile seizure suffer from iron-deficiency anemia and low serum iron. This means the low serum iron and presence of anemia can serve as a reinforcing factor for the febrile seizure in children.

A study on the prevalence and frequency rates of iron deficiency anemia among patients in el. Khorma province, western Saudi Arabia

The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence and frequency rates of iron deficiency anemia among patients attending to a large special medical clinic called Al. Elaj in El. Khorma Province, Western Saudi Arabia. A total of 300 blood specimen of patients 83.3% females and 16.6% males, all aged (18-44 years), were examined for complete blood count (CBC), hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, iron profile and the hemoglobin electrophoresis. Based on hemoglobin levels, the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was 34.7 % (33% females and 1.7% males). For the two groups of the study, mainly the iron deficiency anemia was found. By severity of anemia, mild anemia showed the highest prevalence (63.5%) followed by moderate anemia (25.9%) and severe anemia (10.6%). According to age groups, the highest prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was found in (27-35) age group which was being (41.3 and 4.8%) in females and males respectively, with statistically significant difference between females and males (p < 0.05). In the mean hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in anemia cases, the highest mean value was recorded in males being (10.23±1.3) and (34.8±4.09) for hemoglobin and hematocrit respectively. Mean (±SD) value for red blood cells (RBC), serum iron, serum ferritin and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) in anemic cases were (4.17±0.4, 4.6±0.29), (31.6±4.7, 37.25±1.7), (10.7±4.6, 33.27±7.5) and (363.4±41.3, 358.8±44.8) in females and males respectively. Thus, the results of this study illustrated that iron deficiency anemia is highly prevalent (34.7%) among adults, especially in females (33%) in the study area.

Nutrient intakes of infants with atopic dermatitis and relationship with feeding type.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESThe prevalence of atopic dermatitis in infants is increasing worldwide. However, the nutrient intake status of infants with atopic dermatitis has not been studied properly. This study was conducted to compare the nutrient intake status of infants in the weaning period with atopic dermatitis by feeding type.MATERIALS/METHODSFeeding types, nutrient intake status and growth status of 98 infants with atopic dermatitis from age 6 to 12 months were investigated. Feeding types were surveyed using questionnaires, and daily intakes were recorded by mothers using the 24-hour recall method. Growth and iron status were also measured.RESULTSThe result showed that breastfed infants consumed less energy and 13 nutrients compared to formula-fed or mixed-fed infants (p < 0.001). The breastfed group showed a significantly lower intake rate to the Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans than the other two groups (p < 0.001). In addition, they consumed less than 75% of the recommended intakes in all nutrients, except for protein and vitamin A, and in particular, iron intake was very low, showing just 18.7% of the recommended intake. There was no significant difference in growth by feeding type, but breastfed infants showed a significantly higher rate of iron deficiency anemia (p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSContinuous management programs should be prepared for breastfed infants with atopic dermatitis, who are in a period when rapid growth takes place and proper nutrient intake is essential.