ANEMIA AND IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA - COMPILATION OF DATA ON PREGNANCY OUTCOME

Anemia diagnosed early in pregnancy is associated with increased risks of low birth weight and preterm delivery. In several studies, the ass ociation between anemia and outcomes reversed direction during the thi rd trimester; maternal anemia was no longer a risk factor for poor pre gnancy outcomes. Camden study data were used to examine the probable c ause of this observation. Maternal iron-deficiency anemia, diagnosed a t entry to prenatal care, was associated with low dietary energy and i ron, inadequate gestational gain, and twofold or greater increases in the risks of preterm delivery and low birth weight. During the third t rimester, these associations (except with inadequate gestational gain) were no longer present. This reversal of risk status may be attributa ble to the poor predictive value of anemia and iron deficiency tests d uring the third trimester. However, the relationship between poor diet (with inadequate iron intake) and increased likelihood of preterm del ivery persisted during the third trimester.