Hemoglobin cut-off values in healthy Turkish infants

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Hematology
• Public Health

Background:

• Anemia poses a significant public health risk, increasing morbidity and mortality.
• Establishing accurate diagnostic criteria for infant anemia is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the specific hemoglobin (Hb) cut-off values for diagnosing anemia in healthy infants.
• To compare these values with existing World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cross-sectional study involving 1484 healthy infants aged 4-24 months.
• Analysis of hemoglobin levels across four age groups.
• Evaluation of Hb levels in relation to maternal age, birth weight, weight gain rate, feeding practices, and gender.

Main Results:

• Hemoglobin cut-off values (5th percentile) were established for different infant age groups (e.g., 97 g/L at 4 months, 93 g/L at 6 months).
• Determined cut-off values were generally lower than WHO criteria, potentially due to iron status variations in the studied population.
• Female infants showed higher Hb levels, with a significant difference noted at 6 months; no significant associations were found with maternal age, birth weight, or weight gain rate.

Conclusions:

• Current hemoglobin cut-off values for infant anemia may require re-evaluation.
• Recommended cut-offs should align with the specific growth and developmental context of the community.
• Further research is needed to establish precise normal Hb levels for infants in developing countries.