Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40345804›Full record

ArticleBMJ paediatrics open2025

Smartphone-based screening of neonatal jaundice in three populations in low and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study.

Anders Aune, Gabriela Jímenez-Díaz, Lobke Marijn Gierman, Gunnar Vartdal, Mónica Reyes Berlanga, Jorge Tusoy, Håkon Bergseng, Sunila Shakya, Elisabeth Darj

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ paediatrics open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
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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

9 authors.

Anders AuneFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway a.aune@ntnu.no.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6757-7398
Gabriela Jímenez-DíazFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5944-7427
Lobke Marijn GiermanPicterus AS, Trondheim, Norway.
Gunnar VartdalPicterus AS, Trondheim, Norway.
Mónica Reyes BerlangaDepartment of Pediatrics, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Mexico City, Mexico.
Jorge TusoyFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Håkon BergsengDepartment of Pediatrics, St Olav's Hospital HF, Trondheim, Norway.
Sunila ShakyaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Elisabeth DarjFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNeonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NHB) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Transcutaneous bilirubinometers offer a non-invasive method for assessing NHB but have limited availability due to cost and maintenance requirements. Visual assessment of jaundice is shown to be inaccurate. Smartphone-based technologies have the potential to provide innovative and accessible healthcare solutions. This study aimed to evaluate the Picterus system, a smartphone-based tool for screening of NHB, in three non-Caucasian populations in LMICs.

methodsBetween 2018 and 2022, cross-sectional studies were conducted in three countries: Mexico, Nepal and the Philippines. Newborns meeting the inclusion criteria were recruited, and data on demographic characteristics, skin type and visual assessment of jaundice were collected. Bilirubin levels were measured using both the Picterus system and total serum bilirubin (TSB) analysis. Correlation analyses, Bland-Altman plots and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the Picterus system.

resultsA total of 416 infants were included in the analysis. The Picterus smartphone system demonstrated a significant positive correlation with TSB levels across all sites (r=0.76). The correlation coefficient was significantly higher in Mexico compared with Nepal and the Philippines. Bland-Altman plots showed limits of agreement ±89.2 µmol/L. Picterus values were underestimated in Mexico, whereas they were overestimated in Nepal and the Philippines. ROC analysis for detection of infants with TSB >225 µmol/L indicated that the Picterus system had higher sensitivity and specificity compared with visual assessment using the Kramer scale. DISCUSSION: This study shows that the Picterus system can potentially be used in screening for neonatal jaundice in populations with moderate dark skin types. Further studies are needed before the system can be used in clinical practice.

Indexed as

Jaundice, NeonatalNeonatal ScreeningSmartphoneBilirubinCross-Sectional StudiesDeveloping CountriesFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornMaleMexicoNepalPhilippinesBilirubinInformation TechnologyJaundiceNeonatologyScreening

Identifiers

PMID40345804
PMCPMC12067851

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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.