Abstract

BARTOLO-MARCHENA, Marco et al. Proposal of a correction factor for measurements of hemoglobin by altitudinal tiers in 6-19 month old infants in Peru. An. Fac. med. [online]. 2017, vol.78, n.3, pp.281-286. ISSN 1025-5583.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15381/anales.v78i3.13759.

Introduction: Anemia is the largest nutritional problem in Peru. Objective: To determine changes in hemoglobin level according to altitude in Peruvian children in order to propose a national correction factor. Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. Setting: At national level. Participants: 22 500 children aged 6 to 59 months-old. Interventions: Data from the Demography and Family Health Survey (ENDES 2015) was used to select non-anemic children for the proposed formulation. An exponential regression model were used and the correction factor for hemoglobin (according to altitude) was: 8.3 *e (0,000426 * height) -12. Main outcome measure: Prevalence of anemia according to altitude. Results: We compared the prevalence of anemia by calculating the hemoglobin level with the traditional formula used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and with the proposed correction factor. The difference at national level reached 2.5%, being greater at 3 000 meters over sea level and above (9.2%). Regions with a difference over 5 percentage points were Junín (5,6%), Cusco (5,7%), Ayacucho (6%), Pasco (7,4%), Apurímac (7,8%), Huancavelica (9,9%), and Puno (12,7%). Conclusion: The proposed correction factor identifies lower prevalence of anemia compared to the traditional factor. This observation may be due to the differences found above 3 000 meters over the sea level.

Keywords : Hemoglobin; Altitude; Children; Anemia.

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