title: Health status and fatigue of postpartum anemic women: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of postpartum anemia is high. Current therapy consists of iron supplementation or blood transfusions, based on the assumption that these treatments improve health status (HS) and reduce fatigue. The aim of this study was to compare HS and fatigue in postpartum women with and without anemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective cohort study was performed in The Netherlands between April 2008 and August 2010 and involved 112 anemic (hemoglobin [Hb]<10.5g/dL) and 108 non-anemic (Hb≥10.5g/dL) women. The anemic women received oral iron supplementation. Within 48h and 5 weeks after delivery, HS was measured using the 36 item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and fatigue was measured using the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS). ANOVA for repeated measures was used to compare HS and fatigue scores among groups and across time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for confounding variables, there were no differences in any of the HS and fatigue scores. HS and fatigue seem to be more influenced by a complicated delivery than by anemia. HS and fatigue scores significantly improved over time in all women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HS and fatigue were not different among women with and without postpartum anemia.
authors.affiliation: CoRPS, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, TweeSteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands. Electronic address: daisyvanderwoude@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Daisy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Der Woude
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, TweeSteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johanna M A
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pijnenborg
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pharmacy, TweeSteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jacques M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Verzijl
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Elisabeth Hospital and TweeSteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eduard M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Van Wijk
authors.affiliation: CoRPS, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Psychology, St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jolanda
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Vries
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D007501:Iron
keywords: Anemia; Fatigue; Health status; Iron deficiency; Postpartum