Maternal hemoglobin and birth weight: systematic review and meta-analysis
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health - Year 2015, Vol 4, Issue 4
Abstract
A systematic review published in 2000 studied the association between maternal anemia and birth weight; however, some results were inconclusive. A review of randomized control trials and cohort studies published in 2013 concluded that daily prenatal iron use substantially improves birth weight in a linear dose–response manner. Thus, a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational epidemiological studies was conducted to contemporarily estimate the relationship between prenatal maternal hemoglobin and birth weight. We searched four electronic databases for observational epi - demiological studies, which reported birth weight as an outcome measure and ascertained prenatal maternal anemia by hemoglobin measurement. Thirty-three studies met inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of five studies showed that neonates born to women with anemia were, on average, 303 g lighter in birth weight than those born to women without anemia (95% CI: 19.20–588.26; I ² = 91%; five studies; p = 0.04). On the basis of 17 studies, anemia was found to be significantly associated with doubling the risk of low birth weight (OR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.66–3.38; I ² = 81%; 17 studies; p < 0.00001), and when restricting the analysis to high study score, a higher magnitude of risk was seen (OR: 3.30; 95% CI: 2.24–4.87; I ² = 48%; 7 studies; p < 0.00001). From a subgroup analysis, it was found ( p = 0.02) that anemia in the first and third trimesters was associated with the increased risk of low birth weight. High hemoglobin levels significantly doubled the risk of low birth weight (OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.09–3.12; I ² = 62%; seven studies, p = 0.02). Hemoglobin needs to be routinely investigated during pregnancy, and women with low levels of hemoglobin should be treated and those with significantly high levels should be monitored to minimize harmful impact on neonatal health.
Authors and Affiliations
Anand Ahankari, Jo Leonardi- Bee
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP117193
- DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/ijmsph.2015.2212201489
- Views 115
- Downloads 0
Awareness of diabetic retinopathy and barriers for eye screening among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending tertiary care teaching hospital, Davanagere, Karnataka
Background: India is currently being considered the diabetic capital of the world. With the huge burden of diabetes, more emphasis has to be laid about the disease and its complications. Diabetic retinopathy, one of the...
Non-surgical Management of oral Hemangioma
Background: Hemangiomas are solitary or sometimes multiple flat or raised reddish blue lesions. These are benign, vascular tumours that can lead to disfigurement or may become life threatening....
Importance of etiologic factors and electrocardiographic findings for diagnosis of emergency hyperkalemic patients
Background: Hyperkalemia is the life-threatening problem. Early diagnosis and treatment of patients with the possibility of hyperkalemia should be performed in emergency department. Comorbid diseases used medications and...
Mobile phone related-symptoms among primary care attendees in Al-Khobar city, Eastern Saudi Arabia
Background: Several studies have shown that use of mobile phones may cause adverse health problems such as headache, sleep disturbances, ear warming and other symptoms. Aims & Objective: To determine the prev...
Knowledge, attitude, and practice among primary health-care physicians toward smoking cessation in Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Background: Tobacco smoking is one of the main preventable reasons for death on the planet and is a noteworthy general well-being issue in both developed and developing nations. The primary health-care (PHC) docto...