Accuracy of noninvasive total haemoglobin measurement for detecting anaemia in infants: a cross-sectional study in a well-child care clinic, Khon Kaen, Thailand

Objective Infants are at a high risk of developing anaemia, which can arise from various causes, including inappropriate feeding practices. However, few infants attend anaemia screening programmes due to poor cooperation and being time-consuming. This study evaluated the accuracy of noninvasive tota...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Leelawadee Techasatian, Rattapon Uppala, Suchaorn Saengnipanthkul, Chamaiporn Tawiangnan, Prapassara Sirikarn, Sakuntala Supasai, Phanthila Sitthikarnkha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2024-12-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/12/e083356.full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841536287529500672
author Leelawadee Techasatian
Rattapon Uppala
Suchaorn Saengnipanthkul
Chamaiporn Tawiangnan
Prapassara Sirikarn
Sakuntala Supasai
Phanthila Sitthikarnkha
author_facet Leelawadee Techasatian
Rattapon Uppala
Suchaorn Saengnipanthkul
Chamaiporn Tawiangnan
Prapassara Sirikarn
Sakuntala Supasai
Phanthila Sitthikarnkha
author_sort Leelawadee Techasatian
collection DOAJ
description Objective Infants are at a high risk of developing anaemia, which can arise from various causes, including inappropriate feeding practices. However, few infants attend anaemia screening programmes due to poor cooperation and being time-consuming. This study evaluated the accuracy of noninvasive total haemoglobin (Hb) spot-check monitoring as part of anaemia screening in healthy infants, compared with the conventional laboratory method.Design A cross-sectional study was conducted using a consecutive sampling technique.Setting The study was carried out at the Well-Child Clinic, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.Participants Healthy, full-term infants aged 6–12 months who were scheduled for vaccination. Spectrophotometric haemoglobin (SpHb) was measured using Masimo Rad-67 with Rainbow DCI-mini Sensor. These values were compared with conventional laboratory analysis (HbLab) performed on the same day.Primary and secondary outcome Differences between Hb values using the two methods were analysed using the Bland–Altman method. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) for detecting anaemia were determined. Anaemia was defined as HbLab of <11.0 g/dL.Results A total of 104 infants, with a median age of 9.6 (IQR 9.3, 10.9) months, were included. The prevalence of anaemia, defined by HbLab, was 38.46%. The mean SpHb was 12.20±1.10 g/dL, while the mean HbLab was 11.19±1.21 g/dL. A moderate positive correlation was observed (r=0.575, p<0.001). Bland–Altman analysis of SpHb vs HbLab showed an estimated bias of 1.007 g/dL with a 95% limit of agreement ranging from −1.091 to 3.104 g/dL. The mean bias was 1.635 g/dL (−0.617 to 3.887) in the anaemic group and 0.614 g/dL (−0.964 to 2.192) in the nonanaemic group. Using the SpHb cut-off point of <13.0 g/dL, the sensitivity and specificity of SpHb to detect anaemia were 95.0% and 35.9%, with PPV and NPV of 48.1% and 92.0%, respectively.Conclusion A noninvasive tool for measuring Hb, with moderate sensitivity and NPV, may provide utility for initial screening to reduce unnecessary venipuncture in infants. However, its limited specificity and PPV necessitate confirmatory testing through conventional laboratory methods for accurate diagnosis. Depending on the context and available resources, it has potential to complement existing diagnostic processes, particularly in settings where rapid and noninvasive screening is prioritised.Trial registration number Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR20210816002).
format Article
id doaj-art-cfac64a145be4c06962d41fa79509031
institution Kabale University
issn 2044-6055
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher BMJ Publishing Group
record_format Article
series BMJ Open
spelling doaj-art-cfac64a145be4c06962d41fa795090312025-01-14T18:50:10ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552024-12-01141210.1136/bmjopen-2023-083356Accuracy of noninvasive total haemoglobin measurement for detecting anaemia in infants: a cross-sectional study in a well-child care clinic, Khon Kaen, ThailandLeelawadee Techasatian0Rattapon Uppala1Suchaorn Saengnipanthkul2Chamaiporn Tawiangnan3Prapassara Sirikarn4Sakuntala Supasai5Phanthila Sitthikarnkha6Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, ThailandDepartment of Pediatrics, Khon Kaen University Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen, ThailandDepartment of Pediatrics, Khon Kaen University Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen, ThailandDepartment of Pediatrics, Khon Kaen University Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen, ThailandDepartment of Epiddemiology and biostatistic, Khon Kaen University Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen, ThailandDepartment of Pediatrics, Khon Kaen University Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen, ThailandDepartment of Pediatrics, Khon Kaen University Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen, ThailandObjective Infants are at a high risk of developing anaemia, which can arise from various causes, including inappropriate feeding practices. However, few infants attend anaemia screening programmes due to poor cooperation and being time-consuming. This study evaluated the accuracy of noninvasive total haemoglobin (Hb) spot-check monitoring as part of anaemia screening in healthy infants, compared with the conventional laboratory method.Design A cross-sectional study was conducted using a consecutive sampling technique.Setting The study was carried out at the Well-Child Clinic, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.Participants Healthy, full-term infants aged 6–12 months who were scheduled for vaccination. Spectrophotometric haemoglobin (SpHb) was measured using Masimo Rad-67 with Rainbow DCI-mini Sensor. These values were compared with conventional laboratory analysis (HbLab) performed on the same day.Primary and secondary outcome Differences between Hb values using the two methods were analysed using the Bland–Altman method. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) for detecting anaemia were determined. Anaemia was defined as HbLab of <11.0 g/dL.Results A total of 104 infants, with a median age of 9.6 (IQR 9.3, 10.9) months, were included. The prevalence of anaemia, defined by HbLab, was 38.46%. The mean SpHb was 12.20±1.10 g/dL, while the mean HbLab was 11.19±1.21 g/dL. A moderate positive correlation was observed (r=0.575, p<0.001). Bland–Altman analysis of SpHb vs HbLab showed an estimated bias of 1.007 g/dL with a 95% limit of agreement ranging from −1.091 to 3.104 g/dL. The mean bias was 1.635 g/dL (−0.617 to 3.887) in the anaemic group and 0.614 g/dL (−0.964 to 2.192) in the nonanaemic group. Using the SpHb cut-off point of <13.0 g/dL, the sensitivity and specificity of SpHb to detect anaemia were 95.0% and 35.9%, with PPV and NPV of 48.1% and 92.0%, respectively.Conclusion A noninvasive tool for measuring Hb, with moderate sensitivity and NPV, may provide utility for initial screening to reduce unnecessary venipuncture in infants. However, its limited specificity and PPV necessitate confirmatory testing through conventional laboratory methods for accurate diagnosis. Depending on the context and available resources, it has potential to complement existing diagnostic processes, particularly in settings where rapid and noninvasive screening is prioritised.Trial registration number Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR20210816002).https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/12/e083356.full
spellingShingle Leelawadee Techasatian
Rattapon Uppala
Suchaorn Saengnipanthkul
Chamaiporn Tawiangnan
Prapassara Sirikarn
Sakuntala Supasai
Phanthila Sitthikarnkha
Accuracy of noninvasive total haemoglobin measurement for detecting anaemia in infants: a cross-sectional study in a well-child care clinic, Khon Kaen, Thailand
BMJ Open
title Accuracy of noninvasive total haemoglobin measurement for detecting anaemia in infants: a cross-sectional study in a well-child care clinic, Khon Kaen, Thailand
title_full Accuracy of noninvasive total haemoglobin measurement for detecting anaemia in infants: a cross-sectional study in a well-child care clinic, Khon Kaen, Thailand
title_fullStr Accuracy of noninvasive total haemoglobin measurement for detecting anaemia in infants: a cross-sectional study in a well-child care clinic, Khon Kaen, Thailand
title_full_unstemmed Accuracy of noninvasive total haemoglobin measurement for detecting anaemia in infants: a cross-sectional study in a well-child care clinic, Khon Kaen, Thailand
title_short Accuracy of noninvasive total haemoglobin measurement for detecting anaemia in infants: a cross-sectional study in a well-child care clinic, Khon Kaen, Thailand
title_sort accuracy of noninvasive total haemoglobin measurement for detecting anaemia in infants a cross sectional study in a well child care clinic khon kaen thailand
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/12/e083356.full
work_keys_str_mv AT leelawadeetechasatian accuracyofnoninvasivetotalhaemoglobinmeasurementfordetectinganaemiaininfantsacrosssectionalstudyinawellchildcareclinickhonkaenthailand
AT rattaponuppala accuracyofnoninvasivetotalhaemoglobinmeasurementfordetectinganaemiaininfantsacrosssectionalstudyinawellchildcareclinickhonkaenthailand
AT suchaornsaengnipanthkul accuracyofnoninvasivetotalhaemoglobinmeasurementfordetectinganaemiaininfantsacrosssectionalstudyinawellchildcareclinickhonkaenthailand
AT chamaiporntawiangnan accuracyofnoninvasivetotalhaemoglobinmeasurementfordetectinganaemiaininfantsacrosssectionalstudyinawellchildcareclinickhonkaenthailand
AT prapassarasirikarn accuracyofnoninvasivetotalhaemoglobinmeasurementfordetectinganaemiaininfantsacrosssectionalstudyinawellchildcareclinickhonkaenthailand
AT sakuntalasupasai accuracyofnoninvasivetotalhaemoglobinmeasurementfordetectinganaemiaininfantsacrosssectionalstudyinawellchildcareclinickhonkaenthailand
AT phanthilasitthikarnkha accuracyofnoninvasivetotalhaemoglobinmeasurementfordetectinganaemiaininfantsacrosssectionalstudyinawellchildcareclinickhonkaenthailand