Infants are a high-risk group for the development of iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Iron deficiency in young children slows down psychomotor development and may have long-term consequences in the future.

OBJECTIVE

To determine factors significant for the development of IDA in children aged 1 year.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective study was conducted. Outpatient records of 78 children (45 girls and 33 boys) were analyzed.

RESULTS

IDA at the age of 1 year was diagnosed in 23.1% of children. Body weight gain in the first year of life in children with IDA was statistically significantly greater than in children without anemia (Z=2.3; p=0.021). Accordingly, their body weight was significantly greater at the age of 1 year (Z=2.4; p=0.016). A statistically significant inverse relationship was found between annual gain and body weight at 1 year and hemoglobin level at the age of 1 year (r=–0.26; p=0.023 and r=–0.24; p=0.033, respectively). Children with IDA already in the neonatal period had a statistically significantly lower hemoglobin level compared to children without anemia (Z=2.2; p=0.03) and these differences persisted at the age of 2 months (Z=2.3; p=0.019). A direct statistically significant relationship was found between hemoglobin levels at the age of 2 and 12 months of life (r=0.4; p=0.0004).

CONCLUSION

Thus, almost a quarter of one-year-old children have IDA at the age of 1 year. When assessing the risk of developing this disease, attention should be paid to the rate of weight gain and hemoglobin level at 2 months of age. This may be useful for risk stratification of anemia in infants.