Prevalence and causes of iron deficiency anemias in infants aged 9 to 12 months in Estonia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence and causes of iron deficiency anemia in infants aged 9 to 12 months in Estonia.


METHODS
Every second child aged 9-12 months was randomly selected from primary medical centers in seven counties from all over Estonia. A questionnaire concerning eating habits and lifestyle was sent to their parents. Sixty-five percent (n=195) of contacted families agreed to participate in the study. Mean corpuscular volume and hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and soluble transferrin receptor levels were measured in 171 infants. Anemia was defined when hemoglobin level was lower than 105 g/L, and iron deficiency when ferritin level and mean corpuscular volume were lower than 12 microg/L and 74 fL, respectively.


RESULTS
The prevalence of iron deficiency was 14.0% and iron deficiency anemia 9.4%. Birthweight less than 3000 g was the main risk factor for iron deficiency (OR=9.4; P<0.0005). Infants fed with breast milk and solid food had lower ferritin concentration (18.5 microg/L, 95% CI 14.0-23.0) than infants fed with formula and solid food (32.8 microg/L, 95% CI 26.6-39) (P<0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Iron deficiency anemia is common among 9-12-month-old Estonian infants. The main risk factor for iron deficiency was birthweight less than 3000 g.
Vendt
Neve
N
Department of Pediatrics, University of Tartu, Lunini 6, 51014 Tartu, Estonia. neve.vendt@kliinikum.ee
Grünberg
Heli
H
Leedo
Sirje
S
Tillmann
Vallo
V
Talvik
Tiina
T
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006452:Hemoglobinometry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D041943:Infant Formula; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins