Assessing Anaemia in Malaria-affected Children
Author Information
Author(s): Ilona A Carneiro, Chris J Drakeley, Seth Owusu-Agyei, Bruno Mmbando, Daniel Chandramohan
Primary Institution: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Hypothesis
Is the threefold conversion valid for assessing anaemia in malaria-endemic settings?
Conclusion
The standard threefold conversion from haematocrit to haemoglobin underestimates the prevalence of anaemia in children under five in malaria-endemic areas.
Supporting Evidence
- Haemoglobin was less than haematocrit/3 in 87% of observations.
- Use of haematocrit underestimated anaemia prevalence in children.
- The mean difference between measures was greater in males than females.
Takeaway
When doctors check for anaemia in kids with malaria, they shouldn't just use a simple math trick; it can make them think some kids are healthier than they really are.
Methodology
The study compared haemoglobin and haematocrit measurements in children aged 6–59 months using random effects linear regression.
Potential Biases
Potential systematic bias in haemodilution during sample collection.
Limitations
The study is a secondary analysis and may have biases related to sample collection methods.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 6–59 months from malaria-endemic settings in Ghana and Tanzania.
Statistical Information
P-Value
< 0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI not specified
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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