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Updated: May 16, 2026
A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level
Published on: January 19, 2024
[Frequency of anemia in ulcerative colitis in children]
Elzbieta Krzesiek1, Agnieszka Flis, Barbara Iwańczak
1Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Medical University of Wroclaw, Poland. ellak@op.pl
Insights
Anemia is a common complication in children with ulcerative colitis (UC), affecting over 70% of those hospitalized. Its presence is linked to disease severity and delayed diagnosis, highlighting the need for iron supplementation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Hematology
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research
Context:
- Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease affecting children.
- Anemia is a frequent complication of UC, impacting disease management and patient outcomes.
- Early identification and management of anemia in pediatric UC are crucial.
Purpose:
- To determine the prevalence of anemia in children with UC during their first hospitalization.
- To investigate the relationship between anemia, disease activity, and time to diagnosis in pediatric UC patients.
Summary:
- This study assessed anemia in 36 children (2.5-18 years) diagnosed with UC.
- Anemia was diagnosed in 72.2% of cases, with hemoglobin levels varying based on age.
- Anemia presence correlated with higher disease activity (Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index - PUCAI) and longer time from symptom onset to diagnosis.
Impact:
- Anemia is highly prevalent in pediatric ulcerative colitis.
- Disease activity and delayed diagnosis are key factors influencing anemia development.
- Iron supplementation is necessary for anemic children with UC, even with anti-inflammatory treatment.
Unlabelled:
Anemia is one of most frequent complication of ulcerative colitis. It affects patients in the exacerbation of the disease as well as in the remission. It may be caused by the loss of the blood, the disturbances of intestinal absorption or deficient diet. The aim of the study was to estimate the rate of anemia in children with ulcerative colitis during first hospitalization.
Material And Methods:
The study comprised 36 children aged 2.5 to 18 years, 23 girls and 13 boys in whom ulcerative colitis was diagnosed based on the Porto criteria. Anemia in children was assessed depending on the age, period between first symptoms and diagnosis of the disease and on the activity of the disease according to PUCAI scale.
Results:
Anemia was diagnosed in 72.2% of the children. Hemoglobin concentration ranged from 6.3 to 12.4 g/dl, average 10.05 g/dl depending on age. Activity of the disease according to PUCAI scale amounted to 5 to 80 points, average 51.9 points. Time from first symptoms to the diagnosis of the disease extended from one week to 12 months, average 3.6 months. In children without anemia the average concentration of hemoglobin was 13.2 g/dl, the activity of the disease 33.5 points and average time before diagnosis - 1.7 months.
Conclusions:
Anemia is a frequent symptom of ulcerative colitis in children. The presence of anemia depends on the disease activity and on the time between first symptoms and diagnosis of the disease. There is a necessity of iron supplementation in children with anemia despite effective anti-inflammatory treatment.
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