The Prevalence of Nutritional Anaemia in Brazilian Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Hospitalization of patients with nutritional anemia in the United States in 2020

Background

Nutritional anemia is highly prevalent and has triggered a globally recognized public health concern worldwide.

Objective

To better understand the prevalence of anemia and the state of nutritional health in developed countries to inform global nutritional health and better manage the disease.

Method

We employed the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)-2020 National Inpatient Health Care Data (NIS), administered by The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Nutritional anemia was diagnosed according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10). Matching analysis and multivariate regression were used to adjust for patient and hospital characteristics. Controls were obtained by stratifying and matching for age and sex.

Results

The 2020 HCUP-NIS database encompassed a survey over 6.4 million hospitalized patients, among which 1,745,350 patients diagnosed with anemia, representing approximately 26.97% of the hospitalized population, over 310,000 were diagnosed with nutritional anemia, and 13,150 patients were hospitalized for nutritional anemia as primary diagnosis. Hospitalization rate for nutritional anemia exhibited an increased age-dependent increase nationwide, especially among females, who displayed 1.87 times higher than males. Notably, in comparison to the control group, individuals of the Black race exhibit a higher prevalence of nutritional anemia (case group: 21.7%, control group: 13.0%, p < 0.001). In addition, hospitalization rates were higher among low-income populations, with lower rates of private insurance (case group: 18.7%, control group: 23.5%, p < 0.001) and higher rates of Medicaid insurance (case group: 15.4%, control group: 13.9%, p < 0.001). In areas characterized by larger urban centers and advanced economic conditions within the urban-rural distribution, there was an observed increase in the frequency of patient hospitalizations. Iron deficiency anemia emerged as the predominant subtype of nutritional anemia, accounting for 12,214 (92.88%). Secondary diagnosis among patients hospitalized for nutritional anemia revealed that a significant number faced concurrent major conditions like hypertension and renal failure.

Conclusion

In economically prosperous areas, greater attention should be given to the health of low-income individuals and the older adult. Our findings hold valuable insights for shaping targeted public health policies to effectively address the prevalence and consequences of nutritional anemia based on a overall population health.

Association between household food insecurity and stunting in children aged 0-59 months: Systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

Household food insecurity (HFI) during childhood is associated with poor dietary diversity and malnutrition, placing children's growth at risk. Children with growth disorders, such as stunting, are more likely to have poor cognition and educational performance, lower economic status, and an increased risk of nutrition-related chronic diseases in adulthood. Our study aimed to systematically review and conduct a meta-analysis of cohort studies investigating the association between HFI and stunting in children aged 0-59 months. Peer-reviewed and grey literature were systematically searched in electronic databases with no language or date restrictions. Two reviewers independently assessed the studies for pre-established eligibility criteria. Data were extracted using a standard protocol. Random-effects meta-analysis models were used, and I2 > 40% indicated high heterogeneity across studies. We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system to assess the quality of the evidence. Nine cohort studies comprising 46,300 children were included. Approximately 80% (n = 7) of the studies found a positive association between HFI and stunting. Pooled odds ratio was 1.00 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87-1.14; I2: 76.14%). The pooled hazard ratio between moderate and severe HFI and stunting was 1.02 (95% CI: 0.84-1.22; I2: 85.96%). Due to high heterogeneity, the quality of evidence was very low. Individual studies showed an association between HFI and stunting in children aged 0-59 months; however, this association was not sustained in the pooled analysis, possibly because of high heterogeneity across studies.

Pregnancy Complications Are Associated with Premature Coronary Artery Disease: Linking Three Cohorts

Background: There is increasing evidence that women who experience placenta-mediated pregnancy complications and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at higher risk for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) later in life. We hypothesized that there is an association between placenta-mediated pregnancy complications, GDM, and risk of premature CAD (PCAD). Methods: This research project involved a data linkage approach merging three databases of South Australian cohorts by using a retrospective, age-matched case-control study design. Cases (n = 721) were ascertained from the Coronary Angiogram Database of South Australia (CADOSA). Women <60 years from CADOSA were linked to South Australian Perinatal Statistics Collection (SAPSC) to ascertain their prior pregnancy outcomes. Controls (n = 194) were selected from North West Adelaide Health Study (NWAHS) and comprised women who were healthy or had other health conditions unrelated to CAD, age-matched to CADOSA (±5 years), and linked to SAPSC to determine their pregnancy outcomes. PCAD was defined as >50% stenosis in one or more coronary arteries at coronary angiography. Results: Compared with women without a history of PCAD, women who were diagnosed with PCAD were more likely to have experienced the placenta-mediated pregnancy complications of preterm birth (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-5.00) or low-birth weight (adjusted OR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.22-4.88), or have been diagnosed with active asthma during pregnancy (adjusted OR = 3.52, 95% CI: 1.05-11.76). Conclusion: Placenta-mediated pregnancy complications should be recognized as clear risk markers for future PCAD.

Ultra-Processed Foods and Schooling Are Independently Associated with Lower Iron and Folate Consumption by Pregnant Women Followed in Primary Health Care

Combined deficiencies of nutrients such as iron and folic acid intake during pregnancy are related to nutritional deficiencies risk, such as anemia. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between risk factors (sociodemographic, dietary and lifestyle) and the intake of iron and folate by pregnant women followed up in Primary Health Care (PHC) in the Federal District, Brazil. A cross-sectional observational study was carried out with adult pregnant women of different gestational ages. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied by researchers trained to collect sociodemographic, economic, environmental, and health data. Two nonconsecutive 24-hour recalls (24hr) were carried out to collect data about food consumption. Multivariate linear regression models were used to analyze the association between sociodemographic and dietary risk factors and the consumption of iron and folate. The mean daily energy intake was 1726 kcal (95% CI 1641-1811), with 22.4% (95% CI 20.09-24.66) derived from ultra-processed foods (UPFs). The mean iron and folate intake were 5.28 mg (95% CI 5.09-5.48) and 193.42 µg (95% CI 182.22-204.61), respectively. According to the multivariate model, the highest quintile of ultra-processed foods intake was associated with lower iron (β = -1.15; IC 95%: -1.74; 0.55; p < 0.001) and folate intake (β = -63.23; IC 95%: -98.32; -28.15; p < 0.001). Pregnant women with high school degree presented higher iron intake (β = 0.74; IC 95%: 0.20; 1.28; p = 0.007) and folate intake (β = 38.95; IC 95%: 6.96; 70.95; p = 0.017) compared to pregnant women with elementary school degree. Folate consumption was also associated with the second gestational period (β = 39.44; IC 95%: 5.58; 73.30; p = 0.023) and pregnancy planning (β = 26.88; IC 95%: 3.58; 50.18; p = 0.024). Further research is warranted to enhance evidence on the relationship between the role of processed foods and micronutrients intake to strengthen the nutritional quality of diet of pregnant women attended in Primary Health Care.