title: Adherence and side effects of three ferrous sulfate treatment regimens on anemic pregnant women in clinical trials.
abstract: The objective of this study was to analyze adherence and side effects of three iron supplement regimens (ferrous sulfate) on anemic pregnant women. The clinical trial involved 150 women between the 16th and 20th gestational weeks, at low obstetric risk and with hemoglobin concentration of between 8.0 and 11.0 g/dL. Treatment was provided by ferrous sulfate with 60 mg of elemental iron during 16 (+/- 1) weeks, in three regimens: single tablet a week (n = 48); single tablet twice a week (n = 53) or single tablet a day (n = 49). The outcomes were adherence, assessed through interviews and by counting tablets, and side effects, according to patient information. The adherence showed a declining trend (92%, 83% and 71%; p = 0.010) and the side effects revealed a growing trend (40%, 45% and 71%; p = 0.002) as the dosage increased. Diarrhea and epigastric pain were significantly associated with the dose administered (p = 0.002). These results suggest that in anemic pregnant women, complaints are directly proportional and the compliance is inversely proportional to the amount of medicinal iron.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pesquisa, Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira, Recife, Brasil. ariani@imip.org.br
authors.forename: Ariani Impieri de
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Malaquias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Batista Filho
authors.forename: Cristiane Campello
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Bresani
authors.forename: Luiz Oscar Cardoso
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: José Natal
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Figueiroa
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003248:Constipation / Q000139:chemically induced; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006397:Hematinics; D006454:Hemoglobins; C020748:ferrous sulfate