Faculty Collaboration Database

Association between iron deficiency and blood lead level in a longitudinal analysis of children followed in an urban primary care clinic. J Pediatr 2003 Jan;142(1):9-14

Date

01/10/2003

Pubmed ID

12520247

DOI

10.1067/mpd.2003.mpd0344

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0037238236 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   157 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine if iron deficiency (ID) is longitudinally associated with lead poisoning.

STUDY DESIGN: Blood lead levels, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red cell distribution width (RDW), insurance status, and age were determined for 1,275 children. ID was defined as MCV <70 fl and RDW >14.5 if age was <2 years and MCV <73 fl and RDW >14.5 if age was >/=2 years. Logistic regression models were constructed by using the second-visit blood lead levels dichotomized at >/=0.48 microm/L (10 microg/dL) as the outcome.

RESULTS: The odds ratio (OR) for baseline ID predicting lead poisoning at the second visit was 4.12 (95% CI, 1.96-8.65). In the second model, using children who were iron-replete at both visits as the referent group, for children with ID at both visits, the OR for predicting lead poisoning at the second visit was 5.54 (95% CI, 2.25-13.62). For children with ID at the first visit and iron-replete at the second visit, the OR was 2.73 (95% CI, 0.90-8.27), and for children iron-replete at the first visit and ID at the second visit, the OR was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.10-6.30).

CONCLUSIONS: ID is associated with subsequent lead poisoning. These data are consistent with a biological mechanism of increased lead absorption among iron deficient children.

Author List

Wright RO, Tsaih SW, Schwartz J, Wright RJ, Hu H

Author

Shirng-Wern Tsaih Research Scientist II in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Infant
Lead
Lead Poisoning
Logistic Models
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Odds Ratio
Primary Health Care
United States
Urban Population