Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36735666›Full record

ArticlePloS one2023

Establishing pregnancy-specific haematological reference intervals in Ghana; a three-center cross-sectional study.

Nicodemus Larbi Simpong, Charity Tenu Afefa, Leander Yimpuri, Betty Akum, Afia Safo, Simon-Junior Edziah, David Larbi Simpong, Patrick Adu

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.5field-weighted citation impact, top 7% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Nicodemus Larbi SimpongMaternity Ward, 37 Military Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
Charity Tenu AfefaDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Leander YimpuriDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Betty AkumDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Afia SafoDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Simon-Junior EdziahDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
David Larbi SimpongDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Patrick AduDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.ORCID 0000-0002-9686-8300
University of Cape Coast · GH37 Military Hospital · GH

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAbnormal intra-pregnancy haematological variables are associated with adverse feto-maternal outcomes. However, the reference intervals (RIs) employed in sub-Saharan Africa to inform clinical decisions are generally imported. Since RIs are influenced by age, geographical location, and race, we hypothesized that context specific RIs should be established in Ghana to contextualize intra-pregnancy decision making.

methodsThis cross-sectional study retrospectively retrieved data of 333 pregnant women with no known clinically determined intra-pregnancy complications; 22 participants in their first trimester (T1; 1-13 weeks), 177 in their T2 (14-27 weeks), and 132 in T3 (28-41 weeks). RIs for haematological parameters were non-parametrically determined at 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles in accordance with CLSI guidance document EP28-A3c. Two-sample comparisons were undertaken using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests whereas more than two-sample comparisons were undertaken using Kruskal-Wallis test. Statistical significance was set at p <0.05 under the two-tailed assumptions.

resultsIn accordance with WHO trimester-specific haemoglobin cutoffs, anaemia prevalence was a moderate (T1: 36.4%; 8/22 & T2: 31.6%; 56/177) to severe (T3:68.0%; 90/132) public health problem. Additionally, 9.3% (31/333) individuals had high gestational haemoglobin levels (Hb >13.0 g/dL). Moreover, haemoglobin (T2: 8.6-14.3 vs T3: 7.5-13.6 g/dL), MCH (T2: 22.5-69.8 vs T3: 21.6-31.9 pg), MCHC (T2: 30.2-51.8 g/L vs T3: 30.5-37.9 g/L), TWBC (T2: 4.0-13.4 vs T3: 4.1-13.0 x 109/L) required trimester specific RIs, compared to RBC (2.8-5.1 x 1012/L), MCV (66.2-100.2 fL), and platelet counts (106.3-388.3 x 109/L) that each required combined reference intervals.

conclusionsThe intra-pregnancy haematological RIs determined have appreciable lower limits; there is the need to determine context-specific thresholds for haematological variables predictive of positive and/or adverse maternal and infant health outcomes.

Indexed as

AnemiaHemoglobinsPregnancyCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleGhanaHumansReference ValuesRetrospective StudiesHemoglobins

Identifiers

PMID36735666
PMCPMC9897535
OpenAlexW4319062876

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.