Ibironke Olofin

Anaemia, prenatal iron use, and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives To summarise evidence on the associations of maternal anaemia and prenatal iron use with maternal haematological and adverse pregnancy outcomes; and to evaluate potential exposure-response relations of dose of iron, duration of use, and haemoglobin concentration in prenatal period with pregnancy outcomes. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis Data sources Searches of PubMed and Embase for studies published up to May 2012 and references of review articles. Study selection criteria Randomised trials of prenatal iron use and prospective cohort studies of prenatal anaemia; cross sectional and case-control studies were excluded. Results 48 randomised trials (17 793 women) and 44 cohort studies (1 851 682 women) were included. Iron use increased maternal mean haemoglobin concentration by 4.59 (95% confidence interval 3.72 to 5.46) g/L compared with controls and significantly reduced the risk of anaemia (relative risk 0.50, 0.42 to 0.59), iron deficiency (0.59, 0.46 to 0.79), iron deficiency anaemia (0.40, 0.26 to 0.60), and low birth weight (0.81, 0.71 to 0.93). The effect of iron on preterm birth was not significant (relative risk 0.84, 0.68 to 1.03). Analysis of cohort studies showed a significantly higher risk of low birth weight (adjusted odds ratio 1.29, 1.09 to 1.53) and preterm birth (1.21, 1.13 to 1.30) with anaemia in the first or second trimester. Exposure-response analysis indicated that for every 10 mg increase in iron dose/day, up to 66 mg/day, the relative risk of maternal anaemia was 0.88 (0.84 to 0.92) (P for linear trend<0.001). Birth weight increased by 15.1 (6.0 to 24.2) g (P for linear trend=0.005) and risk of low birth weight decreased by 3% (relative risk 0.97, 0.95 to 0.98) for every 10 mg increase in dose/day (P for linear trend<0.001). Duration of use was not significantly associated with the outcomes after adjustment for dose. Furthermore, for each 1 g/L increase in mean haemoglobin, birth weight increased by 14.0 (6.8 to 21.8) g (P for linear trend=0.002); however, mean haemoglobin was not associated with the risk of low birth weight and preterm birth. No evidence of a significant effect on duration of gestation, small for gestational age births, and birth length was noted. Conclusions Daily prenatal use of iron substantially improved birth weight in a linear dose-response fashion, probably leading to a reduction in risk of low birth weight. An improvement in prenatal mean haemoglobin concentration linearly increased birth weight.

Associations of Suboptimal Growth with All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in Children under Five Years: A Pooled Analysis of Ten Prospective Studies

Background Child undernutrition affects millions of children globally. We investigated associations between suboptimal growth and mortality by pooling large studies. Methods Pooled analysis involving children 1 week to 59 months old in 10 prospective studies in Africa, Asia and South America. Utilizing most recent measurements, we calculated weight-for-age, height/length-for-age and weight-for-height/length Z scores, applying 2006 WHO Standards and the 1977 NCHS/WHO Reference. We estimated all-cause and cause-specific mortality hazard ratios (HR) using proportional hazards models comparing children with mild (−2≤Z<−1), moderate (−3≤Z<−2), or severe (Z<−3) anthropometric deficits with the reference category (Z≥−1). Results 53 809 children were eligible for this re-analysis and contributed a total of 55 359 person-years, during which 1315 deaths were observed. All degrees of underweight, stunting and wasting were associated with significantly higher mortality. The strength of association increased monotonically as Z scores decreased. Pooled mortality HR was 1.52 (95% Confidence Interval 1.28, 1.81) for mild underweight; 2.63 (2.20, 3.14) for moderate underweight; and 9.40 (8.02, 11.03) for severe underweight. Wasting was a stronger determinant of mortality than stunting or underweight. Mortality HR for severe wasting was 11.63 (9.84, 13.76) compared with 5.48 (4.62, 6.50) for severe stunting. Using older NCHS standards resulted in larger HRs compared with WHO standards. In cause-specific analyses, all degrees of anthropometric deficits increased the hazards of dying from respiratory tract infections and diarrheal diseases. The study had insufficient power to precisely estimate effects of undernutrition on malaria mortality. Conclusions All degrees of anthropometric deficits are associated with increased risk of under-five mortality using the 2006 WHO Standards. Even mild deficits substantially increase mortality, especially from infectious diseases.

The effect of multiple anthropometric deficits on child mortality: meta-analysis of individual data in 10 prospective studies from developing countries

BACKGROUND Child stunting, wasting, and underweight have been individually associated with increased mortality. However, there has not been an analysis of the mortality risk associated with multiple anthropometric deficits. OBJECTIVE The objective was to quantify the association between combinations of stunting, wasting, and underweight and mortality among children <5 y of age. DESIGN We analyzed data from 10 cohort studies or randomized trials in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America with 53,767 participants and 1306 deaths. Height-for-age, weight-for-height, and weight-for-age were calculated by using the 2006 WHO growth standards, and children were classified into 7 mutually exclusive combinations: no deficits; stunted only; wasted only; underweight only; stunted and underweight but not wasted; wasted and underweight but not stunted; and stunted, wasted, and underweight (deficit defined as < -2 z scores). We calculated study-specific mortality HRs using Cox proportional hazards models and used a random-effects model to pool HRs across studies. RESULTS The risk of all-cause mortality was elevated among children with 1, 2, and 3 anthropometric deficits. In comparison with children with no deficits, the mortality HRs were 3.4 (95% CI: 2.6, 4.3) among children who were stunted and underweight but not wasted; 4.7 (95% CI: 3.1, 7.1) in those who were wasted and underweight but not stunted; and 12.3 (95% CI: 7.7, 19.6) in those who were stunted, wasted, and underweight. CONCLUSION Children with multiple deficits are at a heightened risk of mortality and may benefit most from nutrition and other child survival interventions.

Fatores associados ao obito neonatal de recem-nascidos de alto risco: estudo multicentrico em Unidades Neonatais de Alto Risco no Nordeste brasileiro

This study aimed to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality in High-Risk Neonatal Units (NICU) belonging to the North-Northeast Perinatal Health Network in Northeast Brazil. The explanatory variables were individual maternal characteristics, prenatal care, childbirth and neonatal care, and infant characteristics. This was a longitudinal, multicenter hospital-based study. The study population consisted of 3,623 live born infants admitted to 34 NICUs. After adjusting for the three hierarchical levels in the model for determination of death in the NICU up to the 27 th day of life, the following showed statistically significant association: type of delivery - cesarean section (OR = 0.72; 95%CI: 0.56-0.95), non-use of prenatal steroids (OR =1.51; 95%CI: 1.01-2.25), preeclampsia (OR = 0.73; 95%CI: 0.56-0.95), oligohydramnios (OR = 1.57; 95%CI: 1, 17-2.10), birth weight < 2500g (OR = 1.40; 95%CI: 1.03-1.90), 5-minute Apgar score < 7 (OR = 2.63; 95%CI: 2.21-3.14), endotracheal intubation (OR = 1.95; 95%CI: 1.31-2.91), and non-use of surfactant (OR = 0.54; 95%CI: 0.43-0.69). Death during NICU care is determined by conditions of the pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn.This study aimed to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality in High-Risk Neonatal Units (NICU) belonging to the North-Northeast Perinatal Health Network in Northeast Brazil. The explanatory variables were individual maternal characteristics, prenatal care, childbirth and neonatal care, and infant characteristics. This was a longitudinal, multicenter hospital-based study. The study population consisted of 3,623 live born infants admitted to 34 NICUs. After adjusting for the three hierarchical levels in the model for determination of death in the NICU up to the 27 th day of life, the following showed statistically significant association: type of delivery – cesarean section (OR = 0.72; 95%CI: 0.56-0.95), non-use of prenatal steroids (OR =1.51; 95%CI: 1.01-2.25), preeclampsia (OR = 0.73; 95%CI: 0.56-0.95), oligohydramnios (OR = 1.57; 95%CI: 1, 17-2.10), birth weight < 2500g (OR = 1.40; 95%CI: 1.03-1.90), 5-minute Apgar score < 7 (OR = 2.63; 95%CI: 2.21-3.14), endotracheal intubation (OR = 1.95; 95%CI: 1.31-2.91), and non-use of surfactant (OR = 0.54; 95%CI: 0.43-0.69). Death during NICU care is determined by conditions of the pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn.Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar los factores asociados a la mortalidad hospitalaria, utilizando como variables explicativas las caracteristicas individuales de la madre, la atencion prenatal, el parto y los bebes recien nacidos internados en Unidades Neonatales de Alto Riesgo (UCIN), miembros de la red norte-noreste de salud perinatal en el noreste de Brasil. Fue realizado estudio longitudinal, multicentrico basado en el hospital. La poblacion de estudio incluyo 3.623 nacidos vivos admitidos en 34 UCIN. Despues de ajustar los tres niveles jerarquicos para la determinacion del modelo de muerte en la UCI neonatal hasta los 27 dias de vida, se les asociaba un tipo de parto: cesarea (OR = 0,72; IC95%: 0,56-0,95); uso de corticosteroides prenatales (OR = 1,51; IC95%: 1,01-2,25); preeclampsia (OR = 0,73; IC95%: 0,56-0,95); oligohidramnios (OR = 1,57; IC95%: 1,17-2,10); peso al nacer < 2.500g (OR = 1.40; IC95%: 1,03-1,90); Apgar 5 minutos < 7 (OR = 2,63; IC95%: 2.21-3.14); intubacion endotraqueal (OR = 1,95; IC95%: 1,31-2,91); uso de surfactante (OR = 0,54; IC95%: 0,43-0,69). La muerte durante el cuidado en una UCIN esta determinada por las condiciones durante el embarazo, el parto y el recien nacido.

Supplementation With Multivitamins and Vitamin A and Incidence of Malaria Among HIV-Infected Tanzanian Women

Introduction:HIV and malaria infections occur in the same individuals, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined whether daily multivitamin supplementation (vitamins B complex, C, and E) or vitamin A supplementation altered malaria incidence in HIV-infected women of reproductive age. Methods:HIV-infected pregnant Tanzanian women recruited into the study were randomly assigned to daily multivitamins (B complex, C, and E), vitamin A alone, both multivitamins and vitamin A, or placebo. Women received malaria prophylaxis during pregnancy and were followed monthly during the prenatal and postpartum periods. Malaria was defined in 2 ways: presumptive diagnosis based on a physicians or nurses clinical judgment, which in many cases led to laboratory investigations, and periodic examination of blood smears for malaria parasites. Results:Multivitamin supplementation compared with no multivitamins significantly lowered womens risk of presumptively diagnosed clinical malaria (relative risk: 0.78, 95% confidence interval: 0.67 to 0.92), although multivitamins increased their risk of any malaria parasitemia (relative risk: 1.24, 95% confidence interval: 1.02 to 1.50). Vitamin A supplementation did not change malaria incidence during the study. Conclusions:Multivitamin supplements have been previously shown to reduce HIV disease progression among HIV-infected women, and consistent with that, these supplements protected against development of symptomatic malaria. The clinical significance of increased risk of malaria parasitemia among supplemented women deserves further research, however. Preventive measures for malaria are warranted as part of an integrated approach to the care of HIV-infected individuals exposed to malaria.

Factors associated with neonatal death in high-risk infants: a multicenter study in High-Risk Neonatal Units in Northeast Brazil

This study aimed to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality in High-Risk Neonatal Units (NICU) belonging to the North-Northeast Perinatal Health Network in Northeast Brazil. The explanatory variables were individual maternal characteristics, prenatal care, childbirth and neonatal care, and infant characteristics. This was a longitudinal, multicenter hospital-based study. The study population consisted of 3,623 live born infants admitted to 34 NICUs. After adjusting for the three hierarchical levels in the model for determination of death in the NICU up to the 27 th day of life, the following showed statistically significant association: type of delivery - cesarean section (OR = 0.72; 95%CI: 0.56-0.95), non-use of prenatal steroids (OR =1.51; 95%CI: 1.01-2.25), preeclampsia (OR = 0.73; 95%CI: 0.56-0.95), oligohydramnios (OR = 1.57; 95%CI: 1, 17-2.10), birth weight < 2500g (OR = 1.40; 95%CI: 1.03-1.90), 5-minute Apgar score < 7 (OR = 2.63; 95%CI: 2.21-3.14), endotracheal intubation (OR = 1.95; 95%CI: 1.31-2.91), and non-use of surfactant (OR = 0.54; 95%CI: 0.43-0.69). Death during NICU care is determined by conditions of the pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn.This study aimed to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality in High-Risk Neonatal Units (NICU) belonging to the North-Northeast Perinatal Health Network in Northeast Brazil. The explanatory variables were individual maternal characteristics, prenatal care, childbirth and neonatal care, and infant characteristics. This was a longitudinal, multicenter hospital-based study. The study population consisted of 3,623 live born infants admitted to 34 NICUs. After adjusting for the three hierarchical levels in the model for determination of death in the NICU up to the 27 th day of life, the following showed statistically significant association: type of delivery – cesarean section (OR = 0.72; 95%CI: 0.56-0.95), non-use of prenatal steroids (OR =1.51; 95%CI: 1.01-2.25), preeclampsia (OR = 0.73; 95%CI: 0.56-0.95), oligohydramnios (OR = 1.57; 95%CI: 1, 17-2.10), birth weight < 2500g (OR = 1.40; 95%CI: 1.03-1.90), 5-minute Apgar score < 7 (OR = 2.63; 95%CI: 2.21-3.14), endotracheal intubation (OR = 1.95; 95%CI: 1.31-2.91), and non-use of surfactant (OR = 0.54; 95%CI: 0.43-0.69). Death during NICU care is determined by conditions of the pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn.Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar los factores asociados a la mortalidad hospitalaria, utilizando como variables explicativas las caracteristicas individuales de la madre, la atencion prenatal, el parto y los bebes recien nacidos internados en Unidades Neonatales de Alto Riesgo (UCIN), miembros de la red norte-noreste de salud perinatal en el noreste de Brasil. Fue realizado estudio longitudinal, multicentrico basado en el hospital. La poblacion de estudio incluyo 3.623 nacidos vivos admitidos en 34 UCIN. Despues de ajustar los tres niveles jerarquicos para la determinacion del modelo de muerte en la UCI neonatal hasta los 27 dias de vida, se les asociaba un tipo de parto: cesarea (OR = 0,72; IC95%: 0,56-0,95); uso de corticosteroides prenatales (OR = 1,51; IC95%: 1,01-2,25); preeclampsia (OR = 0,73; IC95%: 0,56-0,95); oligohidramnios (OR = 1,57; IC95%: 1,17-2,10); peso al nacer < 2.500g (OR = 1.40; IC95%: 1,03-1,90); Apgar 5 minutos < 7 (OR = 2,63; IC95%: 2.21-3.14); intubacion endotraqueal (OR = 1,95; IC95%: 1,31-2,91); uso de surfactante (OR = 0,54; IC95%: 0,43-0,69). La muerte durante el cuidado en una UCIN esta determinada por las condiciones durante el embarazo, el parto y el recien nacido.

Active Tuberculosis in HIV-Exposed Tanzanian Children up to 2 years of Age: Early-Life Nutrition, Multivitamin Supplementation and Other Potential Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND Over half a million children worldwide develop active tuberculosis (TB) each year. Early-life nutritional exposures have rarely been examined in relation to pediatric TB among HIV-exposed children. We therefore investigated independent associations of early-life nutritional exposures with active TB among HIV-exposed children up to 2 years of age. METHODS Participants were children from a randomized controlled multivitamin supplementation trial conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from August 2004 to May 2008, who received daily multivitamin supplements or placebo for 24 months. RESULTS Lower mean corpuscular volumes [relative risks (RR): 0.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.27, 0.87] and higher birth weights (RR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.99) were protective against active TB, whereas multivitamin supplementation was not associated with TB risk (RR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.65, 1.16). CONCLUSIONS Knowledge of nutrition-related risk and protective factors for TB in HIV-exposed children could enhance preventive and case-finding activities in this population, contributing to efforts to reduce the global TB burden.

Los factores asociados a la muerte neonatal de alto riesgo de recien nacidos: estudio multicentrico en Unidades Neonatales de Alto Riesgo en el noreste de Brasil

This study aimed to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality in High-Risk Neonatal Units (NICU) belonging to the North-Northeast Perinatal Health Network in Northeast Brazil. The explanatory variables were individual maternal characteristics, prenatal care, childbirth and neonatal care, and infant characteristics. This was a longitudinal, multicenter hospital-based study. The study population consisted of 3,623 live born infants admitted to 34 NICUs. After adjusting for the three hierarchical levels in the model for determination of death in the NICU up to the 27 th day of life, the following showed statistically significant association: type of delivery - cesarean section (OR = 0.72; 95%CI: 0.56-0.95), non-use of prenatal steroids (OR =1.51; 95%CI: 1.01-2.25), preeclampsia (OR = 0.73; 95%CI: 0.56-0.95), oligohydramnios (OR = 1.57; 95%CI: 1, 17-2.10), birth weight < 2500g (OR = 1.40; 95%CI: 1.03-1.90), 5-minute Apgar score < 7 (OR = 2.63; 95%CI: 2.21-3.14), endotracheal intubation (OR = 1.95; 95%CI: 1.31-2.91), and non-use of surfactant (OR = 0.54; 95%CI: 0.43-0.69). Death during NICU care is determined by conditions of the pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn.This study aimed to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality in High-Risk Neonatal Units (NICU) belonging to the North-Northeast Perinatal Health Network in Northeast Brazil. The explanatory variables were individual maternal characteristics, prenatal care, childbirth and neonatal care, and infant characteristics. This was a longitudinal, multicenter hospital-based study. The study population consisted of 3,623 live born infants admitted to 34 NICUs. After adjusting for the three hierarchical levels in the model for determination of death in the NICU up to the 27 th day of life, the following showed statistically significant association: type of delivery – cesarean section (OR = 0.72; 95%CI: 0.56-0.95), non-use of prenatal steroids (OR =1.51; 95%CI: 1.01-2.25), preeclampsia (OR = 0.73; 95%CI: 0.56-0.95), oligohydramnios (OR = 1.57; 95%CI: 1, 17-2.10), birth weight < 2500g (OR = 1.40; 95%CI: 1.03-1.90), 5-minute Apgar score < 7 (OR = 2.63; 95%CI: 2.21-3.14), endotracheal intubation (OR = 1.95; 95%CI: 1.31-2.91), and non-use of surfactant (OR = 0.54; 95%CI: 0.43-0.69). Death during NICU care is determined by conditions of the pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn.Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar los factores asociados a la mortalidad hospitalaria, utilizando como variables explicativas las caracteristicas individuales de la madre, la atencion prenatal, el parto y los bebes recien nacidos internados en Unidades Neonatales de Alto Riesgo (UCIN), miembros de la red norte-noreste de salud perinatal en el noreste de Brasil. Fue realizado estudio longitudinal, multicentrico basado en el hospital. La poblacion de estudio incluyo 3.623 nacidos vivos admitidos en 34 UCIN. Despues de ajustar los tres niveles jerarquicos para la determinacion del modelo de muerte en la UCI neonatal hasta los 27 dias de vida, se les asociaba un tipo de parto: cesarea (OR = 0,72; IC95%: 0,56-0,95); uso de corticosteroides prenatales (OR = 1,51; IC95%: 1,01-2,25); preeclampsia (OR = 0,73; IC95%: 0,56-0,95); oligohidramnios (OR = 1,57; IC95%: 1,17-2,10); peso al nacer < 2.500g (OR = 1.40; IC95%: 1,03-1,90); Apgar 5 minutos < 7 (OR = 2,63; IC95%: 2.21-3.14); intubacion endotraqueal (OR = 1,95; IC95%: 1,31-2,91); uso de surfactante (OR = 0,54; IC95%: 0,43-0,69). La muerte durante el cuidado en una UCIN esta determinada por las condiciones durante el embarazo, el parto y el recien nacido.