Iron stores and its correlation to haemoglobin levels in pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the rate of iron deficiency in women coming for antenatal care and to asses whether the haemoglobin concentration is a good index in its detection.


METHODS
A cross sectional cohort study.


METHODS
University antenatal clinic, Teaching Hospital, Galle.


METHODS
Haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (HC) and serum ferritin (SF) were estimated in 236 women.


RESULTS
Only 7(3%) women had satisfactory iron stores as shown by SF of over 60 ng/ml. SF levels of less than 10 ng/ml indicating complete depletion of iron stores were found in 135(57%). An Hb level of 11 g/dl, which is the recommended cut off point for the diagnosis of anaemia, had a sensitivity of 63% and a negative predictive value of 41% in the detection of iron deficiency in the study population. The SF was poorly correlated to the Hb at Hb levels of more than 11 g/dl. (r2 = 0.000342, P > 0.5).


CONCLUSIONS
In women attending for antenatal care the rate of iron deficiency is high (69%). The haemoglobin concentration is not a good index to detect this.
Goonewardene
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine Galle, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
Seekkuge
J
J
Liyanage
C
C
D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000175:diagnosis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000175:diagnosis; D011295:Prenatal Care
D006454:Hemoglobins; D007501:Iron