Anemia in Children with Down Syndrome
Author Information
Author(s): Ariel Tenenbaum, Sarah Malkiel, Isaiah D. Wexler, Floris Levy-Khademi, Shoshana Revel-Vilk, Polina Stepensky
Primary Institution: Hadassah University Medical Center
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency in children with Down syndrome and what are the associated risk factors?
Conclusion
Children with Down syndrome are at risk for anemia and iron deficiency similar to the general population.
Supporting Evidence
- 8.1% of the children studied were found to have anemia.
- 50% of the children who had iron studies showed iron deficiency.
- Arab ethnicity and low weight for age were significantly associated with anemia.
Takeaway
This study found that some kids with Down syndrome can have low iron and anemia, just like other kids, so it's important to check their blood.
Methodology
A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted with 149 children with Down syndrome, collecting medical history, physical exams, nutritional assessments, and blood test results.
Potential Biases
The study population may not represent the general population of children with Down syndrome, as it may overrepresent families with high compliance for medical follow-up.
Limitations
Only 38 of the 149 children had iron studies, limiting the ability to fully characterize the anemia.
Participant Demographics
149 children with Down syndrome aged 0–20 years, with a higher proportion of males and a mix of Jewish and Arab ethnicities.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.036
Confidence Interval
(0.057–0.911)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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