Iron status, iron supplementation and anemia in pregnancy: ethnic differences.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the anemia prevalence during pregnancy and the use of and response to iron supplementation in a multi-ethnic population as well as the possible association between anemia and birth outcomes (pregnancy duration, birth weight).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study conducted in a university hospital (Brussels, Belgium) in 341 women. Hemoglobin, ferritin and iron prescription data were extracted from the patients' electronic dossiers; a questionnaire was used to assess iron intake during pregnancy.


RESULTS
Anemia prevalence was higher during the 3rd trimester (24.3%) than in the 1st trimester (6.2%). Arab/Turkish women had a higher prevalence of anemia (9.1%) in the 1st trimester compared to Western women (2.4%; p = 0.044). The frequency of iron prescription was significantly higher among Arab/Turkish (43.7%) compared to Western women (27.9%; p = 0.006). A significantly lower mean birth weight was found among women presenting with anemia in the 1st trimester (3166 g) compared to non anemic women (3442 g; p = 0.036) but no significant difference was detected in mean pregnancy duration between both groups (p = 0.804).


CONCLUSIONS
Anemia was more prevalent among Arab/Turkish women in spite of receiving more iron prescriptions than Western women. Efficient iron therapy and intensive follow-up are warranted to decrease the anemia prevalence during pregnancy, especially among non-Western women.
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan, Belgium. mohamed.baraka2020@gmail.com
M A
MA
Baraka
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Steurbaut
M
M
Laubach
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D
Coomans
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AG
Dupont
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
D007501:Iron