Prevalence and correlates of anaemia in adolescents in Riyadh city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence and correlates of anaemia in male and female adolescents in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Design: A cross-sectional community-based study. Setting: Five primary health-care centres in Riyadh. Subjects: We invited 203 male and 292 female adolescents aged 13-18 years for interview, anthropometric measurements and complete blood count. Blood Hb was measured with a Coulter Cellular Analysis System using the light scattering method. Results: Using the WHO cut-off of Hb < 12 g/dl, 16·7 % (n 34) of males and 34·2 % (n 100) of females were suffering from anaemia. Mean Hb in males and females was 13·5 (SD 1·4) and 12·3 (SD 1·2) g/dl, respectively. Values for mean cell volume, mean cell Hb, mean corpuscular Hb concentration and red cell distribution width in male and female adolescents were 77·8 (SD 6·2) v. 76·4 (SD 10·3) μm 3 , 26·1 (SD 2·7) v. 25·5 (SD 2·6) pg, 32·7 (SD 2·4) v. 32·2 (SD 2·6) g/dl and 13·9 (SD 1·4) v. 13·6 (SD 1·3) %, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that a positive family history of Fe-deficiency anaemia (OR = 4·7; 95 % CI 1·7, 12·2), infrequent intake (OR = 3·7; 95 % CI 1·3, 10·0) and never intake of fresh juices (OR = 3·5; 95 % CI 1·4, 9·5) and being 13-14 years of age (OR = 3·1; 95 % CI 1·2, 9·3) were significantly associated with anaemia in male adolescents; whereas in females, family history of Fe-deficiency anaemia (OR = 3·4; 95 % CI 1·5, 7·6), being overweight (OR = 3·0; 95 % CI 1·4, 6·1), no intake of fresh juices (OR = 2·6; 95 % CI 1·4, 5·1), living in an apartment (OR = 2·0; 95 % CI 1·1, 3·8) and living in a small house (OR = 2·5; 95 % CI 1·2, 5·3) were significantly associated with anaemia.

The Prevalence of Micronutrient Deficiencies and Inadequacies in the Middle East and Approaches to Interventions

“…In the KSA, the prevalence of anemia in young people aged 15–21 years ranged from 16% to 34% with Hb < 12 g/dL [67,68]. Anemia was reported by Abalkhail et al in 20.5% of 800 Saudi students at 10.3%, 20.6%, and 24.6% for those aged 9–11, 12–14, and 15–21 years, respectively [67]; at the highest risk for developing anemia were those 12 years of age, of low social class, and menstruating girls.…”

“…Anemia was reported by Abalkhail et al in 20.5% of 800 Saudi students at 10.3%, 20.6%, and 24.6% for those aged 9–11, 12–14, and 15–21 years, respectively [67]; at the highest risk for developing anemia were those 12 years of age, of low social class, and menstruating girls. Similarly, in cross-sectional, community-based survey in the KSA of 203 males and 192 females aged 13–18 years, Alquaiz et al revealed that 16.7% of males and 34.2% of females had anemia with Hb < 12 g/dL [68]. This study showed significant associations between anemia and female gender, family history of IDA, overweight, no or little intake of fresh juices, and living in an apartment or a small house.…”

Hypertension among Faculty Members of Health Sciences College at South Saudi Arabia: Prevalence and Risk Factors

“…In Saudi Arabia, studies have estimated its prevalence among adults to range from 4% to 15% (8,9,10) . Nevertheless, a recent Saudi study (9) using a blood pressure (BP) of 140/90 as the diagnostic cut off point for HTN, reported that the prevalence rate for essential HTN was 11.8 % among the 2011 participants with a higher prevalence among males (73.6%) compared to (26.4%) females.…”

Consensus Statement by an Expert Panel on the Diagnosis and Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

“…The expert panel reviewed international guidelines for the management of IDA prior to the consensus meeting and took into consideration available literature on IDA in the GCC region [3][4][5][6][7][9][10][11][12]. Different topics were chosen by reviewing the previously published literature and discussion among the authors.…”

“…In the UAE in 2014, IDA was diagnosed in 16% of healthy young adult women before marriage, but was rarely diagnosed in men (< 1%); similarly, ID was more common in women (22.0%) than in men (0.5%) [3]. In Saudi Arabia, anemia was reported in 34.2% of female adolescents and 40% of women of childbearing age, in 2015 [4,5]. In university students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, ID and IDA were observed in 25.9 and 23.9% of women, respectively [6].…”