Comparison of Pica Prevalence Between Children and Adolescents with Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anaemia: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study

Year 2024, , 392 - 399, 30.06.2024

Sadiye Sert , Şerife Karaçal Say

https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1454049

Abstract

Background/Aims: The existing literature lacks comprehensive data on the association between the severity of iron deficiency (ID) and pica prevalence in children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of pica in apparently healthy children and adolescents, and by comparing its occurrence between those diagnosed with ID and those with IDA.
Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the outpatient paediatric clinic over a period of three months. A total of 504 children and adolescents were enrolled in the study. Participants were categorized into three groups based on primary laboratory findings: Group 1 (healthy), Group 2 (isolated ID), and Group 3 (IDA).
Results: A pica prevalence rate of 5.35% was observed, with a significantly higher occurrence among children suffering from IDA compared to those with ID and their healthy counterparts (p: <0.0001). Moreover, the prevalence was significantly higher in the 12-17.9 years age group (p: 0.01). Female sex and serum ferritin level emerged as the most significant independent predictors associated with pica in our investigation.
Conclusions: Our study demonstrated a higher prevalence of the pica among children suffering from IDA, the most severe form of iron deficiencies, compared with those with isolated ID.

Keywords

adolescent, children, iron deficiency, iron deficiency anaemia, pica

Demir Eksikliği ve Demir Eksikliği Anemisi Olan Çocuklar ve Ergenler Arasındaki Pika Prevalansının Karşılaştırılması: Bir Prospektif Kesitsel Çalışma

Abstract

Arka Plan/Amaçlar: Mevcut literatürde demir eksikliğinin şiddeti (DE) ile çocuk ve ergenlerde pika prevalansı arasındaki ilişkiye dair kapsamlı veriler bulunmamaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı görünüşte sağlıklı çocuk ve ergenlerde pika prevalansını araştırmak ve DE tanısı alan kişiler ile DEA tanısı alan kişiler arasındaki görülme sıklığını karşılaştırmaktı.
Yöntemler: Bu prospektif kesitsel çalışma, pediatri polikliniğinde üç ay boyunca gerçekleştirildi. Çalışmaya toplam 504 çocuk ve ergen katılmıştır. Katılımcılar birincil laboratuvar bulgularına göre üç gruba ayrıldı: Grup 1 (sağlıklı), Grup 2 (izole DE) ve Grup 3 (DEA).
Bulgular: %5,35'lik bir pika yaygınlık oranı gözlendi; DEA'lı çocuklar arasında, DE'li çocuklar ve onların sağlıklı akranlarıyla karşılaştırıldığında önemli ölçüde daha yüksek bir görülme sıklığı gözlendi (p: <0,0001). Ayrıca 12-17,9 yaş grubunda prevalans anlamlı olarak daha yüksekti (p:0,01). Araştırmamızda kız cinsiyeti ve serum ferritin düzeyi pika ile ilişkili en önemli bağımsız belirleyiciler olarak ortaya çıktı.
Sonuçlar: Çalışmamız, demir eksikliğinin en şiddetli şekli olan DEA'dan mustarip çocuklarda, izole DE'li çocuklarla karşılaştırıldığında pika prevalansının daha yüksek olduğunu gösterdi.

Keywords

ergen, çocuk, demir eksikliği, demir eksikliği anemisi, pika

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