@article{fdi:010094329,
  title = {{P}revalence and clinical impact of severe anaemia in referral hospitals in southern {B}enin},
  author = {{A}ssongba, {L}. and {B}oukari, {O}. and {A}lao, {J}. {M}. and {N}ouwakpo, {N}. and {V}incent, {J}eanne {P}erp{\'e}tue and {L}uty, {A}drian and ter {K}uile, {F}. {O}. and {M}assougbodji, {A}. and {H}ill, {J}. and {B}riand, {V}al{\'e}rie and {A}ccrombessi, {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}evere anaemia is a critical public health issue worldwide, disproportionately affecting children in {A}frica, where approximately 40% of children aged 6 to 59 months are impacted. {I}t leads to significant hospital and post-hospital complications. {H}owever, there is a notable lack of research on its burden and clinical impact, particularly in {B}enin, where existing data are outdated. {T}his study aims to assess the prevalence and impact of severe anaemia in two areas of perennial transmission in southern {B}enin. {W}e conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study at two referral hospitals in {B}enin, {L}agune {M}other and {C}hild {U}niversity {H}ospital {C}entre ({CHU}-{MEL}) and the {D}epartmental {H}ospital {C}entre-{Z}ou ({CHD}-{Z}). {S}ociodemographic, clinical and biological information were extracted from medical records of patients admitted to paediatric ward in 2023, using a standardised questionnaire. {C}linical severe anaemia was defined as anaemia with decompensation requiring blood transfusion, and biological severe anaemia as haemoglobin < 5 g/dl. {A} total of 7152 paediatric hospital records were included in the analysis ({CHU}-{MEL} = 4388; {CHD}-{Z} = 2764). {T}he median ({IQR}, range) age was 32 (13-61; 1-228) months. {S}evere malaria ({N} = 3653/7152 [51.1%]) and clinical severe anaemia (3586/7152 [50.1%]) were the most common diagnoses with four out of five children (2836/3586 [79.0%]) clinically diagnosed with severe anaemia cases had malaria. {I}n children with severe anaemia, the risk of death decreased slightly with year of age (a{OR} 0.95, 95% {CI} 0.92-0.99, p = 0.019). {I}n contrast, severe malnutrition increased the risk of death (a{OR} 1.80, 95% {CI} 1.33-2.43, p < 0.001) being significant risk factors. {S}evere anaemia is a major contributor to paediatric hospital admissions, with severe malaria being a leading cause in these regions. {T}his study highlights the critical need for a comprehensive management strategy for severe anaemia, particularly in the youngest children. {A}n integrated strategy of effective malaria chemoprevention, such as post-discharge malaria chemotherapy combined with targeted nutritional interventions, are essential to mitigate mortality rates in areas with high malaria transmission, where the dual burden of malaria and nutritional deficiencies exacerbates paediatric morbidity and mortality.},
  keywords = {{P}revalence ; {C}ross sectional survey ; {S}evere anaemia ; {I}n-hospital ; mortality ; {C}hildren ; {B}enin ; {BENIN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{S}cientific {R}eports - {N}ature},
  volume = {15},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {21431 [10 p.]},
  ISSN = {2045-2322},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1038/s41598-025-04298-5},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010094329},
}