title: An analysis of anemia and child mortality.
abstract: The relationship of anemia as a risk factor for child mortality was analyzed by using cross-sectional, longitudinal and case-control studies, and randomized trials. Five methods of estimation were adopted: 1) the proportion of child deaths attributable to anemia; 2) the proportion of anemic children who die in hospital studies; 3) the population-attributable risk of child mortality due to anemia; 4) survival analyses of mortality in anemic children; and 5) cause-specific anemia-related child mortality. Most of the data available were hospital based. For children aged 0-5 y the percentage of deaths due to anemia was comparable for reports from highly malarious areas in Africa (Sierra Leone 11.2%, Zaire 12.2%, Kenya 14.3%). Ten values available for hemoglobin values <50 g/L showed a variation in case fatality from 2 to 29.3%. The data suggested little if any dose-response relating increasing hemoglobin level (whether by mean value or selected cut-off values) with decreasing mortality. Although mortality was increased in anemic children with hemoglobin <50 g/L, the evidence for increased risk with less severe anemia was inconclusive. The wide variation for mortality with hemoglobin <50 g/L is related to methodological variation and places severe limits on causal inference; in view of this, it is premature to generate projections on population-attributable risk. A preliminary survival analysis of an infant cohort from Malawi indicated that if the hemoglobin decreases by 10 g/L at age 6 mo, the risk of dying becomes 1.72 times higher. Evidence from a number of studies suggests that mortality due to malarial severe anemia is greater than that due to iron-deficiency anemia. Data are scarce on anemia and child mortality from non-malarious regions. Primary prevention of iron-deficiency anemia and malaria in young children could have substantive effects on reducing child mortality from severe anemia in children living in malarious areas.
authors.affiliation: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, England. l.j.taylor@liverpool.ac.uk
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Brabin
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Premji
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Verhoeff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000401:mortality; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis