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Updated: Oct 7, 2026

A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level
05:35

A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level

Published on: January 19, 2024

Should infants be screened for anaemia? A prospective study investigating the relation between haemoglobin at 8, 12,

A Sherriff1, A Emond, J C Bell

  • 1Unit of Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, Institute of Child Health, University of Bristol, 22 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK. Andrea.Sherriff@bris.ac.uk

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|May 23, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Low hemoglobin (Hb) levels in 8-month-old infants are linked to poorer motor development by 18 months. Screening for infant anemia at or before 8 months may improve developmental outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Iron deficiency anemia is a common nutritional deficiency in infants.
  • Early childhood development is crucial for long-term health outcomes.
  • Hemoglobin levels are a key indicator of iron status in infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between longitudinal hemoglobin measurements in children from 8 to 18 months and their developmental outcomes at 18 months.
  • To identify critical hemoglobin thresholds for optimal motor development in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ALSPAC).
  • Assayed hemoglobin (Hb) levels at 8, 12, and 18 months in a subsample of 1141 children.
  • Conducted developmental assessments using the Griffiths Scales of Mental Development at 18 months.

Main Results:

  • A significant quadratic relationship was observed between Hb at 8 months and 18-month locomotor development.
  • Children with Hb <95 g/l at 8 months scored 6 points lower on the locomotor subscale compared to those with Hb ≥95 g/l.
  • Infants with Hb <90 g/l at 8 months showed a 12-point deficit in locomotor scores.

Conclusions:

  • Low hemoglobin concentrations (≤95 g/l) at 8 months are associated with impaired motor development at 18 months.
  • This threshold (95 g/l) represents the 5th centile of Hb at 8 months.
  • Screening for infant anemia may be more effective at or before 8 months to mitigate potential adverse developmental effects.
Abstract

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