Screening For Anemia Research Articles

Prevalence and Correlates of Asymptomatic Malaria and Anemia on First Antenatal Care Visit among Pregnant Women in Southeast, Tanzania.

Asymptomatic malaria and anemia during pregnancy increase the risk of negative birth outcomes. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence and correlates of asymptomatic malaria and anemia during first antenatal care (ANC) visit among pregnant women in a rural district, Tanzania. HIV-uninfected pregnant women without symptoms of malaria (n = 819) attending their first ANC at Kibiti Health Centre were enrolled from February 2017 to February 2018. Asymptomatic malaria was detected by malaria rapid-diagnostic tests (mRDT) and real-time PCR. Hemoglobin concentration was determined by HemoCue Hemoglobin 201+. The study outcomes were the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria and anemia (Hemoglobin level <11 g/dL). The overall prevalence of asymptomatic malaria was 36.4% (95% CI: 33.1, 39.8). The monthly prevalence of asymptomatic malaria remained >25% throughout the year, and the highest prevalence (40%) was recorded during the rainy season. Asymptomatic malaria was significantly associated with primigravida, younger maternal age, and anemia. The prevalence of anemia was 68.5% (95% CI: 65.2, 71.6). Asymptomatic malaria, primigravida, younger maternal age and low Body Mass Index were significant predictors of low hemoglobin concentration. We report high prevalence of asymptomatic malaria and anemia among pregnant women on the first ANC visit. Screening of malaria and anemia during the first ANC visit is recommended for targeted interventions.

Improving the treatment of pre-operative anemia in hepato-pancreato-biliary patients: a quality improvement initiative

BackgroundPre-operative anemia is a common, but treatable, condition encountered by surgical patients. It has been associated with increased perioperative complications, length of stay, and blood transfusions. The aim of this project was to increase the treatment rate of pre-operative anemia to 75% of patients consented for major hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery.MethodsThis was an interrupted time series study and a spread initiative from a similar project in a colorectal surgery population. Interventions included an anemia screening and treatment algorithm, standardized blood work, referral to a patient blood management program, and standardized oral iron prescriptions. The primary outcome measure was the change in pre-operative anemia treatment rate and the secondary outcome measure was the post treatment increase in hemoglobin.ResultsA total of 208 patients were included (n = 124 pre-intervention and n = 84 post-intervention). Anemia was present in 39.9% of patients. The treatment rate of pre-operative anemia increased to 44.1% from 28.6%. The mean hemoglobin increased from 110 g/L to 119 g/L in patients who were treated (p = 0.03). There was no significant increase or decrease in blood transfusions or mean number of red cell units transfused per patient. Screening rates for pre-operative anemia increased from 41.1 to 64.3% and appropriate referrals to the patient blood management program increased from 14.3 to 67.6%.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates a small scale spread initiative focused on the treatment of pre-operative anemia. Although the goal to treat 75% of anemic patients was not reached, an effective referral pathway to an existing patient blood management program was developed, and a significant increase in the mean hemoglobin in anemic patients who have been treated pre-operatively was demonstrated.

The Role of Vitamin D and Hepcidin in Pathophysiology of Anaemia in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease

In patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), renal function in maintaining the homeostasis of various metabolic systems of the body is impaired, one of which is the production of erythropoietin hormones. Anaemia is a frequent complication of the CKD and contributes to the increased morbidity and mortality of the patients. Diagnosis or treatment of anaemia in PGK is still a challenge due to multifactorial. Hepcidin, a peptide that has been known as an acute-phase protein, plays a vital role in the regulation of iron metabolism. Hepcidin is known to correlate with ferritin, a parameter of anaemia screening which is commonly examined during this time. In addition to the role of pathophysiology anaemia in CKD, hepcidin is currently widely researched because it is suspected to contribute also to the pathophysiology of bone mineral disorders in PGK. Current research shows that the concentration of vitamin D is inversely proportional to the concentration of hepcidin and is positively associated with the concentration of haemoglobin and iron. The latest report invitro and in vivo support the existence of the interaction between vitamin D and anaemia in patients with PGK through the role of hepcidin.Keywords: anemia, hepcidins, vitamin D, erythropoietin, chronic renal insufficiency.

Effectiveness of pre-operative anaemia screening and increased Tranexamic acid dose on outcomes following unilateral primary, elective total hip or knee replacement: a statistical analysis plan for an interrupted time series and regression discontinuity study.

Perioperative blood transfusion is associated with poorer postoperative outcomes following hip and knee replacement surgery. Evidence for the effectiveness of some measures aimed at reducing blood transfusions in this setting are limited and often rely on weak pre-post study designs. Quasi-experimental study designs such as interrupted time series (ITS) and regression discontinuity design (RDD) address many of the weaknesses of the pre-post study design. In addition, a priori publication of statistical analysis plans for such studies increases their transparency and likely validity, as readers are able to distinguish between pre-planned and exploratory analyses. As such, this article, written prospective of any analysis, provides the statistical analysis plan for an ITS and RDD study based on a data set of 20,772 primary elective hip and knee replacement patients in a single English NHS Trust. The primary aim is to evaluate the impact of a preoperative anaemia optimisation service on perioperative blood transfusion (within 7 days of surgery) using both ITS and RDD methods. A secondary aim is to evaluate the impact of a policy of increased tranexamic acid dose given at the time of surgery, using ITS methods.

Red cell alloimmunization: A 2020 update.

Management of maternal red cell alloimmunization has been revolutionized over the last 60 years. Advances in the prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of alloimmune-induced fetal anemia make this condition an exemplar for contemporary practice in fetal therapy. Since survival is now an expectation, attention has turned to optimization of long-term outcomes following an alloimmunized pregnancy. In this review, the current management of red cell alloimmunization is described. Current research and future directions are discussed with particular emphasis on later life outcomes after alloimmune fetal anemia.

A New Indicator Derived From Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Content for Screening Iron Deficiency in an Area Prevalent for Thalassemia.

To establish a new indicator derived from reticulocyte hemoglobin (Ret-He) content and red blood cell (RBC) indices for screening for iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in an area in whch thalassemia is prevalent. Blood specimens from 304 women aged between 18 and 30 years residing in northeast Thailand were collected and measured for RBC and reticulocyte parameters. Iron deficiency was diagnosed when a participant had a serum ferritin level of less than 15 ng per mL. Thalassemia genotypes were defined by hemoglobin (Hb) and DNA analyses. Of the total participants, 25% had iron deficiency (ID) and 50% carried the thalassemia gene. Various mathematical formulas were established and analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The formula derived from Ret-He: (Ret-He/RDW-SD) × 10, was the best predictor for identifying ID among participants (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.812). Further testing of this indicator among individuals with positive thalassemia-screening results revealed stronger performance with an AUC of 0.874. The findings indicate that the formula derived from Ret-He might be applicable for screening ID in areas in which thalassemia is prevalent.

Screening for Anemia in Children with Down Syndrome.

As part of the 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) health supervision guidelines for children with Down syndrome (DS), annual screening for iron deficiency anemia is recommended between the ages of 1 and 18 years, but the evidence supporting this recommendation is limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anemia in patients with DS between the ages of 1 and 18 years to provide additional evidence for the AAP 2011 guideline recommendations for annual hemoglobin and ferritin screening in patients with DS. A retrospective cohort study was completed by obtaining data from the electronic health record (EHR) for patients meeting the following inclusion criterion: a diagnosis of DS in patients aged 1 to 18 years seen at our institution with hemoglobin drawn between July 2012 and 2016. Data were analyzed by the Fisher exact test and χ test. A total of 200 patients were identified. 22.5% had anemia, defined as a hemoglobin concentration less than 2 SDs for normed age. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2010) reported prevalence of anemia for children aged 1 to 5 years is 3.2% when compared with 18.7% in our sample. Of the 45 children with anemia, 5% had a microcytic, 67.5% a normocytic, and 27.5% a macrocytic anemia. Only 10 received a diagnosis of anemia in the EHR. The prevalence of anemia in this cohort of children with DS is significantly higher than that in the general population, supporting the AAP guidelines for an annual screening until the age of 18 years.

Anemia and Its Associated Factors Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending Debre Berhan Referral Hospital, North-East Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PurposeAnemia is one of the common complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), which has an adverse effect on the progression and development of other diabetes-related complications. In spite of this, relatively little information is available on the prevalence of anemia and associated factors among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. Thus, this study assessed the prevalence of anemia and associated factors among T2DM patients at Debre Berhan Referral Hospital (DBRH), North-East, Ethiopia.Patients and MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1 to May 30, 2019, among 249 T2DM patients with follow up at DBRH, selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory tests; such as hemoglobin measurements, red blood indices, and serum creatinine analysis. The data were coded and entered into Epi-data manager version 4.4.1.0, and analysis by using SPSS version 22 was carried out. To identify the determinant factors of anemia, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. P-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.ResultsThe study showed 20.1% of the participants were anemic. Being age >60 years (AOR=3.06, 95% CI: 1.32–7.11), poor glycemic control (AOR=2.95, 95% CI: 1.22–7.15), eGFR 60–89.9 mL/min/1.73m2 (AOR=2.91, 95% CI: 1.15–7.37), eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m2 (AOR=6.58, 95% CI: 2.42–17.93), DM duration >10 years (AOR= AOR=2.75, 95% CI: 1.17–6.48), and having diabetic complications (AOR=3.81, 95% CI: 1.65–8.81) were significantly associated with anemia.ConclusionOne out of five T2DM patients had anemia. Poor glycemic control, decreased eGFR, presence of DM complications, duration of DM >10 years, and age >60 years were significantly associated with the occurrence of anemia among T2DM. Regular screening for anemia in all T2DM patients may help in the early detection and management of anemia.

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

P570 The burden of anaemia remains significant over time in patients with inflammatory bowel disease at a tertiary referral centre

Abstract Background Anaemia is an important complication and/or extra-intestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as well as a predictor of poor outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of anaemia and the frequency of anaemia screening over time, at a tertiary referral IBD centre. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the occurrence of anaemia at the time of referral or diagnosis and during follow-up at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) IBD centre. Consecutive patients presenting with an outpatient visit (‘index visit’) between July and December 2016 and between December 2018 and March 2019 were included. Disease characteristics, biochemistry and medical management, including the need for intravenous iron therapy were captured. Results 1356 and 1293 CD and UC patients [disease duration: 12 (IQR:6–22) and 10 (IQR: 5–19) years] were included in the 2 periods. The prevalence of moderate or severe anaemia at referral/diagnosis (15.4% and 8.5%) and during the follow-up (11.1% and 8.1%) was higher in CD than in UC patients, with a decrease of anaemia in CD patients between the 2 periods. The prevalence of any anaemia at follow-up was 22.4% and 18.7% in CD and in UC, while 82.7% of patients were tested at least once for anaemia during a 6-month period. UC patients with more extensive disease, treated with steroids or biologics at the time of referral but not during follow-up, active disease, or an elevated calprotectin at the time of assessment, and CD patients with active disease, elevated CRP or calprotectin at the time of assessment, with complicated disease, perianal involvement, previous respective surgery or colonic disease location, had a higher risk of anaemia. Intravenous iron therapy was prescribed in 46 patients (46.8% patients (37/79) with moderate or severe anaemia) with 72.3% having active disease (CD: 65.2%, steroid 83.3%, biological therapy: 78.6%, CRP: 97.8%, FCAL: 73.9%) in the second cohort. 91.3% of patients receiving intravenous iron had an extensive evaluation of anaemia pre- and post-therapy (CBC, ferritin, transferrin, TSAT, B12, folate). Anaemia improved by &amp;gt;2g/l in 56.5% after 4–6 weeks (intravenous iron dose &amp;gt;1000mg in 87% of patients). Four patients required a blood transfusion. Conclusion Anaemia occurred frequently in this IBD cohort, at referral to the centre and during follow-up, and contributes to the burden of IBD in referral populations. Most patients were assessed for anaemia regularly and with accurate anaemia workup in patients prescribed intravenous iron therapy, yet the targeted management of moderate to severe anaemia was suboptimal.

Ferritin Screening And IRon Treatment for Maternal Anemia and FGR Prevention Trial

Ferritin Screening And IRon Treatment for Maternal Anemia and FGR Prevention Trial

Prevalence and associated factors of anemia among full-term newborn babies at University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAnemia in newborn babies causes asymptomatic to an acute life-threatening event. If untreated, it leads to a delay in brain maturation, tissue hypoxia, and stunted growth. In Sub-Saharan Africa, its burden ranges 23–66%. However, in Ethiopia, there is limited information regarding the prevalence and associated factors of newborn anemia. Thus, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of anemia among full-term newborn babies.MethodCross-sectional study was conducted from February 1 to April 30, 2019, among 192 full-term newborn babies. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to select study participants. Socio-demographic characteristics were collected through interviews. Clinical data were collected by reviewing medical records. Cord blood was collected from the clumped cord. Complete blood count was analyzed by using the Sysmex KX-21 N hematology analyzer. SPSS 20 was used to analyze the data. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to identify associated factors. P-value < 0.05 was considered a statistically significant association.ResultThe median (interquartile range) of cord hemoglobin was 15 g/dL (13.93–16.2 g/dL). From the total, 25% (95% CI: 18.9, 31.1%) of the newborns were anemic. From anemic 89.5, 6.3, and 4.2% were mild, moderate and severe anemia type, respectively. Maternal vegetable consumption habit (AOR = 0.34, 95%CI: 0.17, 0.69) were significant associated with anemia.ConclusionAnemia among newborn babies found to be a moderate public health problem. Based on the finding early screening of newborn anemia may reduce further complications.

Comparison of the accuracy of capillary hemoglobin estimation and venous hemoglobin estimation by two models of HemoCue against automated cell counter hemoglobin measurement.

BACKGROUND:HemoCue point of care devices has been extensively used in screening for anemia in blood banking. HemoCue can estimate hemoglobin (Hb) both from venous as well as capillary blood. However, the suitability of HemoCue Hb estimation in donor selection is unclear.AIMS:The aims of this study were to evaluate variance of difference in Hb measurement in capillary HemoCue estimation as compared to venous HemoCue estimation from automated cell counter and to assess accuracy of two different HemoCue models (201 and 301) against automated cell counter Hb measurements in both capillary as well as venous blood.MATERIALS AND METHODS:HemoCue 201 and 301 were evaluated by a comparison of methods study against Sysmex XP-100 three-part analyzer at a blood bank of a tertiary care hospital in Uttarakhand, India, in 2017. Assessment for anemia of 115 donors was done initially by capillary Hb by a convenience sampling to 2 instruments from 2 different models of HemoCue (total of 4 instruments). Venous blood collected was analyzed by Sysmex XP-100 and all HemoCue analyzers.RESULTS:For capillary method, bias ranged from −0.97 to −0.37 g/dL, upper limit of agreement (LOA) ranged from 0.72 to −1.06 g/dL, and lower LOA ranged from −2.65 to −1.79 g/dL. For venous method, bias ranged from −0.03 to −0.24 g/dL, the upper LOA ranged from 0.81 to −1.07 g/dL, and lower LOA ranged from −1.04 to −0.57 g/dL. Thus, capillary HemoCue estimation exhibited greater bias as well as wider LOA. Variance of the differences from automated counter was significantly lower for venous HemoCue comparison compared to capillary HemoCue estimation (P < 0.001 for each instrument).CONCLUSION:Errors in capillary sampling of blood show the extent to which preanalytical errors can influence results in point-of-care devices. We suggest augmentation of any blood bank-based Hb screening process based just on capillary sampling to be augmented by a properly selected venous sampling to reduce deferral for a false-positive screen of anemia.

Update regarding anemia in heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a burden for the healthcare system. The incidence will increase significantly due to the aging of po­pu­la­tion, which is associated with multiple comorbidities. Ane­mia and iron deficiency are common in patients with HF, their etiology being often multifactorial. The screening for anemia and iron deficiency is recommended as soon as pos­si­ble. There are often no targeted investigations, therefore a significant proportion of cases are underdiagnosed. The ma­nagement of patients may focus on identifying and correcting the cause. Anemia can occur due to nutritional deficiencies, infla­m­mation, renal failure, bone marrow dysfunction, neuro­hor­mo­nal activity, treatment and hemodilution. The appropriate the­ra­py for the patients with anemia and HF will contribute to the improvement of life quality. The only recommended iron product is ferric carboxymalose administered by in­tra­venous infusion. Under the appropriate treatment, the pa­tients showed an increase in effort tolerance, with an im­prove­ment in symptomatology and a lower number of hos­pi­ta­li­za­tion days. The management of these cases is handled by a multidisciplinary team consisting of a general prac­ti­tio­ner, a cardiologist and other specialists if the patient has other comorbidities. The role of the general practitioner is essential, as he can perform proper screening, prevention and management, developed by a multidisciplinary team, in order to reduce the cardiac morbidity and mortality.

A cross-sectional study on prevalence and determinants of anemia among women of reproductive age in a rural community of West Bengal.

Context:Anemia is a serious public health concern especially in women of reproductive age (WRA) as it causes a high burden of morbidity and mortality and persists through intergenerational cycle. As most of the risk factors are preventable, a thorough understanding of its risk factors is necessary to design better interventions.Aims:Current study aimed to estimate the burden of anemia as well as explore determinants of various grades of anemia among WRA in a rural area.Settings and Design:A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among non-pregnant, non-lactating women of reproductive age in rural field practice area of All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health.Methods and Materials:House to house visit was conducted for interviewing with pre-designed pre-tested questionnaire along with blood hemoglobin and anthropometric measurement.Statistical Analysis Used:Descriptive statistics and test of significance like multinomial logistic regression and Kruskal-Wallis test (with post-hoc) were used.Results:Majority (70.8%) of participants were anemic. Proportion of mild, moderate, and severe anemia were 24.16%, 37.5%, and 9.16%, respectively. Different levels of anemia were significantly associated with higher age, lower education, poor iron-rich food intake, lack of dietary diversity, and adiposity. Significantly low hemoglobin level in both underweight and obesity was noticed suggesting U shaped relationship between BMI and anemia.Conclusion:Periodic screening for anemia among WRA especially in both extremes of malnutrition, i.e., undernutrition and obesity should be considered at the policy level. Year-round behaviour change communication campaigns must be carried out for the promotion of necessary food groups in diet.

Anaemia among adolescents: A community-based study using cluster sampling in villages under Sarjapur Primary Health Centre, Bangalore urban district

Background: India has the largest adolescent population in the world, the majority of whom reside in rural areas. Anemia is one of the top five causes of morbidity among adolescents. Objective: To assess the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among adolescents aged 10–19 years residing in a rural area. Methods: Community-based, cross-sectional study in 25 villages and one town under Sarjapur Primary Health Centre (PHC), Bangalore Urban District. Two-staged cluster sampling was done. The interview schedule for sociodemographic details, diet, and physical activity was administered. Nutritional status was estimated by body mass index-for-age. Hemoglobin (Hb) was estimated using photometric analyzer. Chi-square test was done for the association between anemia (Hb Results: Of 210 adolescents, 48.1% had anemia, most were mild anemia. No significant association found between anemia and sociodemographic factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status or nutrition status, diet, and physical activity. None of the anemic adolescents were investigated or treated for anemia before. None of the subjects were aware of adolescent-friendly health services at the PHC. Conclusion: Nearly half of adolescents in this rural area were anemic. In addition to on-going Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation for the prevention of anemia and bi-annual deworming, there is a need for routine screening and treatment of anemia in schools, and follow-up of school drop-outs at household level by auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM). Community-level workers like Accredited Social Health Activist, ANM, and Anganwadi worker must create awareness regarding available adolescent services, treat anemia with iron and folic acid tablets and focus on counseling adolescents to promote healthy eating habits and iron-rich foods.

Prevalence of anemia and its association with dietary pattern among elderly population of urban slums in Kochi.

Background:Anemia is common among the elderly and it is the reason behind their poor survival. Anemia among the elderly is consistently disregarded, which can even incite cardiovascular complexities. The risk of physical decline for the elderly with iron insufficiency is twofold than that of others in the same age. The elderly populace dwelling in urban slums is progressively influenced. Hence, the objective was to study the prevalence of anemia among elderly dwelling in urban slums of Kochi corporation and its association with the dietary pattern.Methodology:A cross-sectional study was carried out among 165 elderly (60 years of age and above), residing in urban slums of Kochi corporation. The hemoglobin level was measured using Heamocue and the dietary pattern was assessed by a structured pretested questionnaire eliciting a 7-day dietary recall.Results:The prevalence of anemia among the elderly was observed to be 60.6%, out of which 66% were females and 49% were males. The elderly females were found to be more vulnerable to anemia.Conclusion:Anemia was found to be significantly high among the elderly population in urban slums of Kochi. Regular screening and management of anemia along with dietary awareness have become the need of the hour.

ANEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common complication in patients with IBD. In spite this, some investigators indicate that more than a third of IBD patients are not tested for anemia in the time of diagnosis. Aim. To provide a pathway to help achieve diagnosis a type of anemia in patients with moderate activity of ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods. Basic profile of iron turnover parameters, red blood cell indices, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in 20 anemic patients with mild/moderate active UC patients was described. Results. IDA was diagnosed in fifteen 75% of the patients, tree of which (15%) had anemia of chronic disease (ACD), and 10% had mixed type of anemia (IDA/ACD). Conclusion. Ferritin, seems to play a central role in the definition and diagnosis of anemia in UC patients. Routine screening for anemia is important among patients with IBD. The cornerstone for the accurate management of anemia in UC patients lies in accurately diagnosing the type of anemia.

Digital Hemoglobinometers as Point-of-Care Testing Devices for Hemoglobin Estimation: A Validation Study from India.

Introduction:India has launched Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy in 2018, to deal with the high burden of anemia in the country. Point-of-care testing (POCT) of anemia using digital hemoglobinometers and treatment is one of the primary interventions under AMB. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic validity of digital hemoglobinometers (TrueHb and HemoCue 301) for screening of anemia compared to hematology analyzer.Methodology:A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics of a selected primary health center and subdivisional hospital of Haryana, India, during January 2019. Hemoglobin (Hb) levels of the pregnant women were estimated in digital hemoglobinometers using capillary blood samples and hematology analyzer using venous blood samples. Bias, limits of agreement (LOA), and validity of digital hemoglobinometers were assessed against a hematology analyzer.Results:A total of 110 pregnant women were included. Bias (LOA) in Hb values estimated using digital hemoglobinometers was −0.09 g/dL (−1.97 to 1.80 ) for HemoCue301 and −0.04 g/dL (−1.69 to 1.60) for TrueHb compared to the hematology analyzer. HemoCue® 301 (sensitivity: 86% and specificity: 83%) had relatively higher sensitivity and specificity compared to TrueHb (sensitivity: 78.9% and specificity: 81%).Conclusions:Digital hemoglobinometers have high sensitivity and specificity. Thus, these can be a potential POCTs for screening of anemia in peripheral health facilities. Further studies are required to establish the validity of the digital hemoglobinometers at community settings.

The Need for Early Screening for Iron Deficiency Anemia in 9- to 12-Month-Old Infants

The Need for Early Screening for Iron Deficiency Anemia in 9- to 12-Month-Old Infants