Maternal Hemoglobin Concentration during Gestation and Risk of Anemia in Infancy: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective To examine the relationship between maternal hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and the risk of anemia in infancy. Study design This analysis included 17,193 women who entered the trial when they were 20 years of age or older, no more than 20 weeks of gestation, had mild or no anemia, and delivered singleton live births. Maternal Hb concentrations were measured in the first trimester and during 24-28 weeks of gestation; infant Hb concentrations were measured at 5-7 months and 11-13 months of life. The associations between maternal Hb concentrations and infant Hb concentrations were examined. Results Maternal Hb concentrations measured during 24-28 weeks of gestation, but not in the first trimester, were correlated with infant Hb concentrations measured at either of the two post-partum periods. The risk of infant anemia at 5-7 months increased when maternal Hb concentration was ≤109 g/L during 24-28 weeks of gestation ([AOR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.59-2.40] and 11-13 months [AOR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.36-2.18]); whereas the risk of anemia during 5-7 months as well as 11-13 months in infancy decreased when maternal Hb level at 24-28 weeks of gestation was 120-129 g/L (AOR for 5-7 months: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.64-0.85; AOR for 11-13 months: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.61-0.85) or ≥130 g/L (AOR for 5-7 months: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.63-0.90; AOR for 11-13 months: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.73-1.08). Conclusion Low maternal Hb concentration during 24-28 weeks of gestation was associated with an increased risk of anemia in infancy, whereas high maternal Hb concentration was associated with a reduced risk of anemia.

Prevalence and associated factors of anemia among full-term newborn babies at University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

“…It can be severe to the acute life-threatening event [7]. It also causes impairment in brain development, delay in brain maturation, poor school performance and work capacity in later years, stunted growth, tissue and organ hypoxia, poorer cognitive, motor, and social-emotional development [2,8].…”

Establishment of reference intervals for complete blood count parameters during normal pregnancy in Beijing

“…During pregnancy, a lot of physiologic changes occur to accommodate the demands of the developing fetus, which affects the hematologic parameters directly or indirectly. These hematologic changes are considered to be the risk factors affecting maternal and pregnancy outcome . For hematologic complication that can be discriminated and treated early, it is important to know the variation during the entire stages of pregnancy.…”

“…These hematologic changes are considered to be the risk factors affecting maternal and pregnancy outcome. [5][6][7][8] For hematologic complication that can be discriminated and treated early, it is important to know the variation during the entire stages of pregnancy. Thus, to understand the changes better and distinguish whether it caused by physiologic or pathologic, there is a basic need *These authors contributed equally to this work.…”

Maternal malaria but not schistosomiasis is associated with a higher risk of febrile infection in infant during the first 3 months of life: A mother-child cohort in Benin

“…Anemia due to chronic diseases is one of the proposed mechanisms of schistosomiasis-mediated adverse birth and neonatal outcomes [12]. In particular, schistosomiasis in pregnancy is responsible for iron loss in stool and urine, resulting in maternal iron deficiency and anemia, which has been associated with infant's hemoglobin concentration in the first months of life [30][31][32]. However, in our study the effect of schistosomiasis on infant's Hb concentration was shown after adjustment for maternal anemia, suggesting other underlying mechanisms.…”