TY - JOUR
T1 - Screening and routine supplementation for iron deficiency anemia
T2 - A systematic review
AU - McDonagh, Marian S.
AU - Blazina, Ian
AU - Dana, Tracy
AU - Cantor, Amy
AU - Bougatsos, Christina
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
PY - 2015/4/1
Y1 - 2015/4/1
N2 - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Supplementation and screening for iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) in abstract young children may improve growth and development outcomes. The goal of this study was to review the evidence regarding the benefits and harms of screening and routine supplementation for IDA for the US Preventive Services Task Force. METHODS: We searched Medline and Cochrane databases (1996-August 2014), as well as reference lists of relevant systematic reviews. We included trials and controlled observational studies regarding the effectiveness and harms of routine iron supplementation and screening in children ages 6 to 24 months conducted in developed countries. One author extracted data, which were checked for accuracy by a second author. Dual quality assessment was performed. RESULTS: No studies of iron supplementation in young children reported on the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental delay. Five of 6 trials sparsely reporting various growth outcomes found no clear benefit of supplementation. After 3 to 12 months, Bayley Scales of Infant Development scores were not significantly different in 2 trials. Ten trials assessing iron supplementation in children reported inconsistent findings for hematologic measures. Evidence regarding the harms of supplementation was limited but did not indicate significant differences. No studies assessed the benefits or harms of screening or the association between improvement in impaired iron status and clinical outcomes. Studies may have been underpowered, and control factors varied and could have confounded results. CONCLUSIONS: Although some evidence on supplementation for IDA in young children indicates improvements in hematologic values, evidence on clinical outcomes is lacking. No randomized controlled screening studies are available.
AB - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Supplementation and screening for iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) in abstract young children may improve growth and development outcomes. The goal of this study was to review the evidence regarding the benefits and harms of screening and routine supplementation for IDA for the US Preventive Services Task Force. METHODS: We searched Medline and Cochrane databases (1996-August 2014), as well as reference lists of relevant systematic reviews. We included trials and controlled observational studies regarding the effectiveness and harms of routine iron supplementation and screening in children ages 6 to 24 months conducted in developed countries. One author extracted data, which were checked for accuracy by a second author. Dual quality assessment was performed. RESULTS: No studies of iron supplementation in young children reported on the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental delay. Five of 6 trials sparsely reporting various growth outcomes found no clear benefit of supplementation. After 3 to 12 months, Bayley Scales of Infant Development scores were not significantly different in 2 trials. Ten trials assessing iron supplementation in children reported inconsistent findings for hematologic measures. Evidence regarding the harms of supplementation was limited but did not indicate significant differences. No studies assessed the benefits or harms of screening or the association between improvement in impaired iron status and clinical outcomes. Studies may have been underpowered, and control factors varied and could have confounded results. CONCLUSIONS: Although some evidence on supplementation for IDA in young children indicates improvements in hematologic values, evidence on clinical outcomes is lacking. No randomized controlled screening studies are available.
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U2 - 10.1542/peds.2014-3979
DO - 10.1542/peds.2014-3979
M3 - Review article
C2 - 25825534
AN - SCOPUS:84927749455
SN - 0031-4005
VL - 135
SP - 723
EP - 733
JO - Pediatrics
JF - Pediatrics
IS - 4
ER -