Iron deficiency anemia: Pregnancy outcomes with or without iron supplementation:
Abstract
The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of iron supplements by analyzing the data set of Hungarian Congenital Abnormality Registry from 1980 to 1996. The basis of the efficacy of iron supplements would be provided by the birth complications or congenital abnormalities of the offspring of the mothers. The result of the study showed 3,242 cases with congenital abnormalities and 6,358 controls without congenital abnormalities had mothers with iron deficiency anemia. The study presented three primary findings, and three secondary findings that need further investigation.
Introduction
In this study, the authors aimed to validate the efficacy of iron supplements by comparing the data sets. This study provides an answer why most gestating women experience anemia and provides a persuasive suggestion by testing the efficacy of iron supplements.
This research concerns the health of gestating women. Overall, the paper was clear and well-written, with some words particularly health-related terms need explanation. Nonetheless, the paper is successful in its purpose which is to inform the women and those associated with anemia.
Method
The method used in this study involves analyzing the data set of the Hungarian Congenital Abnormality Registry (HCAR) from 1980 to 1996. In this data set, the confirmation of a birth defects or congenital abnormalities (CA) was based on the notification of the physicians to the HCAR and autopsy reports. The variable group consisted of the offspring, which includes the infants who survived, miscarried fetuses and terminated pregnancies due to health complications for either or both the baby and the mother, with any CAs as recorded by the HCAR. On the other hand, the control group consisted of the infants without any CA from the National Birth Registry of the Central Statistical Office for the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities (HCCSCA). In this study, 2 controls for every case were matched in accordance to 3 parameters and analyzed.
The sources of data were from the (1) medical records and the prenatal maternity logbook sent by the mothers, (2) questionnaires given out to the mothers and (3) nurse visits. For the confirmation of anemia, the threshold for the hemoglobin level was set to 11 g/dL for the first and second trimester and 10.5 g/dL for the third trimester. Lastly, SAS 8.02 was used for the statistical analyses.
Result
The study showed that 14.2% (3,242 out of 22,843 cases with CA) had an anemic mother and 16.7% (6,358 out of 38,151 controls without CA) had an anemic mother. Out of all anemic mothers, 61.7% (1,999 out of 3,242) of the cases and 69.9% (4,444 out of 6,358) of the controls had iron deficiency anemia. However, because of iron supplementation, all of the cases and controls were considered iron deficient. Only 6.5% (210 out of 3,242) of the cases and 5.7% (363 out of 6,358) of the controls were untreated with iron supplements. Also, no higher rate of premature birth and lower birth weight of infants of anemic women treated with an iron supplement were shown. However, for the case of mothers with anemia without iron supplementation, shorter gestational time and a higher rate of premature birth were apparent.
Discussion
The prevalence of anemia on gestating mothers is because of the fact that within nine months of amenorrhea, the female body will have a high increase in the demands for iron. Thus, it is best that the gestating mothers be treated with iron supplements.
The evaluation for the efficacy of iron supplement was supported by the results of the study: (1) mothers with anemia without iron supplement had shorter gestational age and higher rate of premature birth and (2) mothers with iron treatment showed a decrease in their severe nausea-vomiting.
The study presented three primary findings: (1) most of the gestating women have mild anemia, (2) most of them have iron treatment and may be effective and (3) anemic women needs healthier lifestyle. Also, three secondary findings were presented: there could be an association between (1) constipation-related hemorrhoid and anemia, (2) hypotension and anemia and (3) anemia and lower risk of CA.
Reference:
Bańhidy, F. et al. (2009). Iron deficiency anemia: Pregnancy outcomes with or without iron supplementation. Nutrition, 27, 65-72. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2009.12.005
