title: Prevalence and risk factors for iron-deficiency anemia in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants at 1 year of corrected age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia and iron deficiency at 1 year of corrected age (CA) in preterm very-low-birth-weight infants, and to identify risk factors for iron-deficiency anemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of infants with birth weight <1500 g and gestational age <34 weeks on iron prophylaxis were followed up to 12 months' CA. Anemia diagnosis was based on hemoglobin <11 g/dl. Iron deficiency was defined by ferritin levels <10 μg/l, transferrin saturation <10% and mean corpuscular volume <80 fl. Neonatal data and feeding at 6 and 12 months' CA (breastfeeding and/or cow's milk or infant formula); hospitalizations during the first year and weight, head circumference, body mass index and length at 12 months' CA were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of anemia in 310 participants was 26.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 21.8-31.6%] and of iron deficiency was 48% (95% CI 39.0-56.9%). Increased consumption of cow's milk at 6 months [relative risk (RR) 1.687; 95% CI 1.146-2.483], lower maternal age (RR 0.953; 95% CI 0.923-0.983), high number of pregnancies (RR 1.256; 95% CI 1.122-1.406) and being born small for gestational age (RR 1.578; 95% CI 1.068-2.331) were independently associated with anemia after adjustments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of anemia is high at 1 year of CA. Dietary and environmental education strategies may help prevent anemia after discharge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Newborn Section, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil 90035-003.
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.forename: Renato S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Procianoy
authors.forename: Rita C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Silveira
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002417:Cattle; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008892:Milk; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins
keywords: anemia; iron deficiency; low birth weight; premature