Arch Dis Child 2001;84:480-485 ( June )

Article

Should infants be screened for anaemia? A prospective study investigating the relation between haemoglobin at 8, 12, and 18 months and development at 18 months A Sherriff^a, A Emond^b, J C Bell^a, J Golding^a, the ALSPAC Study Team^a

^a Unit of Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, Institute of Child Health, University of Bristol, 22 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK, ^b Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children, St Michael's Hill, Bristol BS2 8BJ, UK

Correspondence to: Dr Sherriff Andrea.Sherriff{at}bris.ac.uk

Accepted 1 February 2001

AIMSTo investigate the relation between haemoglobin in children followed longitudinally from 8 to 18 months, and developmental outcome at 18 months.
METHODSThe Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ALSPAC) is a longitudinal survey of a geographically defined population of children born in 1991-92. In a randomly selected subsample, blood samples were assayed for Hb at 8, 12, and 18 months; a developmental assessment was carried out at 18 months on 1141 children using the Griffiths Scales of Mental Development.
RESULTSThere was a strong quadratic association between Hb at 8 months and performance on the locomotor subscale at 18 months. Average scores increased with increasing Hb up to 95 g/l; there was little additional developmental benefit in Hb levels beyond 95 g/l. Infants with Hb <95 g/l at 8 months of age scored on average 6 points lower on the locomotor subscale than infants with Hb  95 g/l; infants with Hb <90 g/l at 8 months scored 12 points lower on the locomotor subscale than children with Hb  90 g/l.
CONCLUSIONSLow Hb concentrations ( 95 g/l) in 8 month old children are associated with impaired motor development at 18 months. This cut off point corresponds to the 5th centile of Hb at 8 months. The results indicate that if there is an adverse effect of low Hb on developmental outcome, screening may be more effective at 8 months or earlier, rather than after this age. We propose to examine the importance of infant anaemia in relation to more accurate and detailed long term outcomes as the children get older.


Keywords: anaemia; development; haemoglobin; screening

---

© 2001 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Arch. Dis. Child. 2001 85: 317. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Bondi, S. A., Lieuw, K. (2009). Excessive Cow's Milk Consumption and Iron Deficiency in Toddlers: Two Unusual Presentations and Review. ICAN: Infant, Child, & Adolescent Nutrition 1: 133-139 [Abstract]  
• Hopkins, D., Emmett, P., Steer, C., Rogers, I., Noble, S., Emond, A. (2007). Infant feeding in the second 6 months of life related to iron status: an observational study. Arch. Dis. Child. 92: 850-854 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Toschke, A. M, Martin, R. M, von Kries, R., Wells, J., Davey Smith, G., Ness, A. R (2007). Infant feeding method and obesity: body mass index and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements at 9-10 y of age from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 85: 1578-1585 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Meinzen-Derr, J. K., Guerrero, M. L., Altaye, M., Ortega-Gallegos, H., Ruiz-Palacios, G. M., Morrow, A. L. (2006). Risk of Infant Anemia Is Associated with Exclusive Breast-Feeding and Maternal Anemia in a Mexican Cohort. J. Nutr. 136: 452-458 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Faber, M., Kvalsvig, J. D, Lombard, C. J, Benade, A. S. (2005). Effect of a fortified maize-meal porridge on anemia, micronutrient status, and motor development of infants. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 82: 1032-1039 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• CRAWLEY, J. (2004). REDUCING THE BURDEN OF ANEMIA IN INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN IN MALARIA-ENDEMIC COUNTRIES OF AFRICA: FROM EVIDENCE TO ACTION. Am J Trop Med Hyg 71: 25-34 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Peterson, C. A., Wall, S., Raikes, H. A., Kisker, E. E., Swanson, M. E., Jerald, J., Atwater, J. B., Wei Qiao, (2004). Early Head Start: Identifying and Serving Children with Disabilities. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education 24: 76-88 [Abstract]  
• Stoltzfus, R. J, Kvalsvig, J. D, Chwaya, H. M, Montresor, A., Albonico, M., Tielsch, J. M, Savioli, L., Pollitt, E. (2001). Effects of iron supplementation and anthelmintic treatment on motor and language development of preschool children in Zanzibar: double blind, placebo controlled study. BMJ 323: 1389-1389 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Neuspiel, D. R. (2001). Infant Anemia and Toddler Development. AAP Grand Rounds 6: 32-32 [Full Text]  

eLetters:

Read all eLetters

Over-estimation of the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia by screening with the HemoCue haemoglob

RJD Moy

ADC Online, 30 Jul 2001 [Full text]