Factors associated with iron depletion and iron deficiency anemia among Arabic preschool children of the United Arab Emirates

The purpose of this study was: 1. To estimate the prevalence of iron depletion and iron deficiency anemia in preschool Arabic children of the United Arab Emirates [UAE], and 2. To determine the risk factors associated with these conditions in this population of children. From April through to October 2000 a questionnaire and capillary blood survey was carried out in one primary health care [PHC] centre of Al Ain, UAE. Children whose capillary hemoglobin [Hb] or mean cell volume [MCV] results fell below predetermined cutoffs were offered venous blood workup. An additional sample of children with capillary blood results above those cutoffs were offered the same workup. All blood sampling was completed by May 2001. Five hundred and eight parents were questionnaired and 496 children capillary blood tested. Of the 320 venous blood tested, 315 were analyzed, in relation to questionnaire responses, using univariate analysis and logistic regression. Anemia, iron depletion and iron deficiency anemia were found in an estimated 36.1%, 26%, and 9.9% of this population of children. Age was a significant independent predictor of both iron depletion and iron deficiency anemia. Mother's current pregnancy was an additional predictor of iron deficiency anemia. The prevalences of iron depletion and iron deficiency anemia in this population of children were consistent with other reports from the region. Child's age and mother's current pregnancy were predictors of iron deficiency anemia. These findings have important implications for antenatal and childcare both in hospital and primary health care clinics

hematological survey of preschool children of the United Arab of Emirates

Anemia is common worldwide, particularly in developing countries including states of the Arabian Peninsular. The purpose of this study was to produce a hematological profile of preschool national children of the United Arab Emirates [UAE]. From April 2000 to October 2000, a cross-sectional community clinic-based capillary blood survey was carried out on a convenience sample of 1-5-year-old Emirati children attending a Primary Health Care Center in Al-Ain, UAE. Those children with capillary hemoglobin [Hb] and mean corpuscular volume [MCV] values below predetermined cutoffs were offered venous blood hematological workup. A random sample of children with values above those cutoffs were also offered the same workup. All venous blood sampling was completed by May 2001. Four hundred and ninety six children were surveyed. The mean Hb and adjusted MCV rose with increasing age but were not significantly different by gender. Two hundred and sixty-two children with Hb or MCV below the cutoffs and 50 children above the cutoffs were venous blood tested. The estimated abnormalities for this population of children were as follows: anemia 36.1%; iron deficiency anemia 9.9%; glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] deficiency 9.1%; sickle cell trait 4.6%; and beta thalassemia 8.7%. There was likely to be a high prevalence of alpha thalassemia. Rates of anemia and iron deficiency anemia in this population of children were consistent with other reports from the region, but higher than in developed countries. Hereditary red cell abnormalities were common, particularly G6PD deficiency. The gene frequency of alpha thalassemia is likely to be high but requires DNA studies