Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2025
Author Spotlight: Developing a Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Estimation Method for Anemia Management
Published on: January 19, 2024
Anemia in Children with Congenital Heart Disease: A Finding from Low-Resource Setting Hospitals
Henok Kumsa1, Rediet Woldesenbet1, Feven Mulugeta2
1School of Midwifery, College of Health Science, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Insights
Anemia is highly prevalent in children with congenital heart disease (CHD), particularly in cyanotic cases. Malnutrition is linked to higher anemia rates in acyanotic CHD, warranting further investigation into hematological impairments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiology
- Hematology
Background:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect globally.
- Anemia, a key indicator of micronutrient deficiency, significantly increases childhood morbidity and negatively impacts psychomotor development.
- Anemia in children with CHD, especially in developing nations, receives insufficient clinical attention despite its severe consequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of anemia in children diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD).
- To identify factors associated with anemia among pediatric CHD patients.
Main Methods:
- An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted involving 373 children (0-15 years) with acyanotic (ACHD) and cyanotic (CCHD) heart disease.
- Data were collected via structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements; anemia was diagnosed using hemoglobin levels from medical records.
- Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.
Main Results:
- The study included 298 (79.9%) ACHD and 75 (20.1%) CCHD cases.
- Overall anemia prevalence was 24.5% in ACHD and 72% in CCHD.
- Malnutrition was observed in 64.4% of ACHD and 33.3% of CCHD cases, with anemia being more frequent in malnourished ACHD children.
Conclusions:
- A high prevalence of anemia exists in children with CHD, with significantly higher rates in CCHD.
- Further research is recommended to investigate hematological impairments in ACHD and CCHD.
- The findings suggest a need for deeper exploration into immune system dysfunction in children with CHD.
Introduction:
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect. Anemia is the prevailing manifestation of micronutrient deficiency. It has been demonstrated that anemia in children increases morbidity and has a negative impact on psychomotor development. Despite its negative consequences, which have been documented for a long time in clinical practice, the issue does not gain sufficient attention in developing countries, specifically in children with CHD. Thus, this study is aimes to assess the prevalence of anemia and the factors associated in children with CHD.
Methods:
Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on CHD children at selected governmental hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from February to March 2021. During this period, 373 children with acyanotic and cyanotic heart disease between 0 months and 15 years of age were included in this study. All children were assessed using structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Recent hemoglobin results that are avaliable in the medical charts of children were used to diagnose anemia. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.
Results:
From randomly included 373 children with CHD, 298 (79.9%) had acyanotic congenital heart disease (ACHD) and 75 (20.1%) had cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD). Twenty-five (33.3%) CCHD and 192 (64.4%) ACHD cases of children were malnourished. The most common type of CCHD and ACHD defects were ventricular septal defects and tetralogy of fallout, respectively. Overall, the prevalence of anemia in ACHD and CCHD was 24.5% and 72%, respectively. In children with ACHD, the frequency of anemia was reported to be significantly higher in the malnourished group than in the well-nourished.
Conclusions:
A high prevalence of anemia is observed in children with CHD. This study highly suggests further evaluation to determine the frequency and complications of blood indices and other hematological impairments in ACHD, CCHD, and children with both problems. Moreover, the findings of this study on illness profiles in children with CHD prompt further research into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying immune system dysfunction.
More Related Videos
05:23Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload
Published on: March 14, 2017
08:28Analysis of Congenital Heart Defects in Mouse Embryos Using Qualitative and Quantitative Histological Methods
Published on: March 10, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:27Disorders of Erythrocytes
Erythrocyte disorders can be broadly categorized into two main types: anemic and polycythemic conditions.
A low oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood due to the loss, lower production, or destruction of erythrocytes is termed anemia. Hemorrhagic anemia, for example, occurs when bleeding from an external wound or internal ulcer reduces erythrocyte counts.
On the other...
01:26Imbalances in Cardiac Output
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send...
01:24Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis
Several factors influence the erythrocyte production rate, with tissue oxygen level being among the most critical. Intense exercise or high altitudes can cause tissue hypoxia, which triggers the kidneys to release more erythropoietin (EPO) into the bloodstream.
EPO then...
01:20Overview of Hematopoiesis
Developmental Phases of Hematopoiesis
Initially, HSCs are formed in the embryonic yolk sac, a critical site for early blood cell production. These stem cells subsequently migrate to other...
01:14Erythropoiesis
01:27Anatomy of the Heart