Iron-deficiency anaemia in children with congenital heart diseases at a teaching hospital in Ghana

Inna Ossei; Kwame Ohene Buabeng; Paul Poku Sampene Ossei; Samuel Blay Nguah; William Gilbert Ayibor; Berko Panyin Anto; Agyemang-Duah Eric; Mahama Duwiejua

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03408

Iron-deficiency anaemia in children with congenital heart diseases at a teaching hospital in Ghana

Heliyon. 2020 Feb 19;6(2):e03408. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03408. eCollection 2020 Feb.

Authors

Inna Ossei¹, Kwame Ohene Buabeng², Paul Poku Sampene Ossei³, Samuel Blay Nguah¹, William Gilbert Ayibor⁴, Berko Panyin Anto², Agyemang-Duah Eric³, Mahama Duwiejua⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Child Health, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
² Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
³ Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Komfo ANokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
⁴ Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

Abstract

Background: Uncorrected congenital heart lesions in children keep them in a state of constant hypoxia with compromised quality of life and reduced life expectancy. This requires early diagnosis and interventions including prevention and treatment of the resultant anaemia. Unfortunately, congenital heart disease (CHD) often goes unrecognized and thus untreated.

Objectives: We determined the occurrence of CHD in children below 15 years at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), assessed the prevalence of relative iron deficiency anaemia in that cohort and the use of iron supplementation in these patients.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study, using a structured data collection tool, by retrospectively reviewing patient records from December 2015 to January 2010. Data was also obtained prospectively from January 2016 to March 2016.

Results: Eighty cases (44 females and 36 males) of CHD were encountered. Tetralogy of Fallot was the most common (48.8%) CHD. Cases of cyanotic congenital heart disease were reported at autopsy. Of the 80 cases, 48 (72.7%) had signs of relative iron deficiency. Thirty (62.5%) of the 48 patients did not receive iron supplementation. In 14 cases, full blood count was not determined and yet 10 patients received iron at sub-optimal doses (<3 mg/kg/day) and one was given iron at 6 mg/kg/day.

Conclusion: CHD is a common phenomenon among newborns at KATH. Use of iron supplementation was suboptimal. Compliance with guidelines on the use of iron as well as structures for early detection of CHD for definitive interventions are advocated.

Keywords: Anaemia; Cardiology; Cardiovascular system; Congenital; Cyanotic; Emergency medicine; Erythropoietin; Health sciences; Hypoxia; Laboratory medicine.