Gr. Delong et al., EFFECT ON INFANT-MORTALITY OF IODINATION OF IRRIGATION WATER IN A SEVERELY IODINE-DEFICIENT AREA OF CHINA, Lancet, 350(9080), 1997, pp. 771-773
Background Hotien county in Xinjiang province, China, is an area of se
vere iodine deficiency and has a high infant-mortality rate. We invest
igated whether iodine replacement through iodination of the irrigation
water would decrease infant mortality. Methods We added potassium iod
ate to irrigation water over a 2 to 4 week period beginning in 1992 in
certain areas of three townships (Tusala, Long Ru, and Bakechi). Logi
stic regression analysis was used to compare the odds ratios for infan
t and neonatal mortality in treated and untreated areas. Findings The
median urinary iodine concentration significantly increased in women o
f child-bearing age from <10 mu g/L to 55 mu g/L Infant-mortality rate
s decreased in the treated areas of Long Ru (mean [SD]) 58.2 [4.4] per
1000 births to 28.7 [7.1] per 1000 births), Tusala (47.4 [12.4] per 1
000 births to 19.1 [1.5] per 1000 births), and Bakechi (106.2 [9.5] pe
r 1000 births to 57.3 [7.3] per 1000 births). Similar results were als
o seen for neonatal mortality. On regression analysis iodine treatment
and time were significant independent predictors of infant mortality.
Interpretation iodine supplementation of irrigation water in areas of
severe iodine deficiency decreases neonatal and infant mortality. iod
ine replacement has probably been an important factor in the national
decrease in infant mortality in China.