SynthesisTropical medicine & international health : TM & IH2024
Use of point-of-care haemoglobin tests to diagnose childhood anaemia in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review.
Synthesis in Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.
- Artificial intelligence capabilities in identifying atrial fibrillation using baseline sinus rhythm ECG : a systematic review.Open heart · 2025Pooled it
- Article
- Comparison of Masimo Rad-67 SpHb non-invasive hemoglobin monitoring device with complete blood count measurement for use in pregnancy: An observational multi-site cohort study.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2025Article
- Addressing Anemia in High-Altitude Populations: Global Impact, Prevalence, Challenges, and Potential Solutions.American journal of hematology · 2025Review
- Impacts of Ambient Temperatures on Pediatric Anemia in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Regional Ecological Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Clinicians in low- and middle-income settings need better access to point-of-care haemoglobin tests for identifying and managing children and pregnant women with severe anaemia.Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH · 2025Article
- Radiomic identification of anemia features in monochromatic conjunctiva photographs in school-age children.Biophotonics discovery · 2025Article
- The silent epidemic: Tackling the burden of anaemia in Africa.African journal of laboratory medicine · 2025Article
- Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesAnaemia is a major cause of mortality and transfusion in children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); however, current diagnostics are slow, costly and frequently unavailable. Point-of-care haemoglobin tests (POC(Hb)Ts) could improve patient outcomes and use of resources by providing rapid and affordable results. We systematically reviewed the literature to investigate what, where and how POC(Hb)Ts are being used by health facilities in LMICs to diagnose childhood anaemia, and to explore challenges to their use.
methodsWe searched a total of nine databases and trial registries up to 10 June 2022 using the concepts: anaemia, POC(Hb)T, LMIC and clinical setting. Adults ≥21 years and literature published >15 years ago were excluded. A single reviewer conducted screening, data extraction and quality assessment (of diagnostic studies) using QUADAS-2. Outcomes including POC(Hb)T used, location, setting, challenges and diagnostic accuracy were synthesised.
resultsOf 626 records screened, 41 studies were included. Evidence is available on the use of 15 POC(Hb)Ts in hospitals (n = 28, 68%), health centres (n = 9, 22%) and clinics/units (n = 10, 24%) across 16 LMICs. HemoCue (HemoCue AB, Ängelholm, Sweden) was the most used test (n = 31, 76%). Key challenges reported were overestimation of haemoglobin concentration, clinically unacceptable limits of agreement, errors/difficulty in sampling, environmental factors, cost, inter-observer variability and supply of consumables. Five POC(Hb)Ts (33%) could not detect haemoglobin levels below 4.5 g/dL. Diagnostic accuracy varied, with sensitivity and specificity to detect anaemia ranging from 24.2% to 92.2% and 70% to 96.7%, respectively.
conclusionsPOC(Hb)Ts have been successfully utilised in health facilities in LMICs to diagnose childhood anaemia. However, limited evidence is available, and challenges exist that must be addressed before wider implementation. Further research is required to confirm accuracy, clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness.
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