Association Between Gravidity and Anemia in Tabari Cohort Population: A Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Hematology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Anemia is a significant global public health concern, disproportionately affecting women.
• Previous research on anemia in women has largely focused on pregnant individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between gravidity (number of pregnancies) and anemia in women aged 35-70.
• To analyze data from a subset of women in the Tabari Cohort study.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 1676 women with at least one pregnancy.
• Anemia cases (n=838) were identified via census, and controls (n=838) were randomly selected by age.
• Statistical analysis included multivariate logistic regression, chi-square test, and independent sample t-test.

Main Results:

• The mean gravidity was significantly different between anemic and non-anemic groups (3.23 vs. 3.53, P=0.001).
• Women with gravidity of 5 or more showed a reduced odds ratio (OR=0.52, 95%CI: 0.30-0.88) for anemia after adjusting for confounders.
• Higher gravidity was associated with a lower risk of anemia in this cohort.

Conclusions:

• Gravidity, particularly five or more pregnancies, is associated with a decreased risk of anemia in women aged 35-70.
• Findings suggest a complex relationship between reproductive history and anemia prevalence beyond pregnancy.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms behind this association.