Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Department of Chemical Pathology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Nov 19;24(1):3209. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20640-4.
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) remains a global health concern, and has been associated with cognitive decline. However, very few studies have explored the association between IDA and cognitive function among Ghanaians. We assessed the association between IDA and cognitive function among adolescents in the Ashanti region, Ghana.
This cross-sectional study involved 250 adolescents from Kumasi, Ghana. Sociodemographic and dietary data were obtained using a well-structured questionnaire. Blood samples were drawn for estimation of ferritin and complete blood count. The Test of Non-verbal Intelligence (TONI-4) was used to assess cognitive function. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of cognitive function.
The prevalence of IDA was 30.4%, which was higher among adolescents with poor cognitive performance test scores (CPTS) (71%). Being female [aOR = 0.32, 95% CI (0.10-0.99), p = 0.0480)], father having junior high education [aOR = 0.08, 95% CI (0.02-0.45), p = 0.0040)], being in a category B school [aOR = 0.26, 95% CI (0.09-0.81), p = 0.0200)] and C [aOR = 0.08, 95% CI (0.02-0.40), p = 0.0020)] and non-fruit consumption [aOR = 0.18, 95% CI (0.06-0.52), p = 0.0010)], were significantly associated with lower likelihood of having very good cognitive function. Moreover, ferritin (r = 0.451, p < 0.001) and hemoglobin (r = 0.402, p < 0.001) demonstrated a moderate positive correlation with CPTS.
The prevalence of IDA is high in our study population and was linked with poor cognitive function. Adolescents with IDA had low cognitive performance test scores. High levels of hemoglobin and ferritin showed a moderate correlation with higher cognitive performance. These findings suggest that adolescents' cognitive function may be moderately influenced by IDA, highlighting the potential impact of iron status on cognitive outcomes.
缺铁性贫血（IDA）仍然是一个全球性的健康问题，与认知能力下降有关。然而，很少有研究探讨 IDA 与加纳青少年认知功能之间的关系。我们评估了加纳阿散蒂地区青少年中 IDA 与认知功能之间的关系。
这项横断面研究涉及来自加纳库马西的 250 名青少年。使用结构良好的问卷获得社会人口统计学和饮食数据。采集血样以估计铁蛋白和全血细胞计数。使用非言语智力测验（TONI-4）评估认知功能。使用二元逻辑回归确定认知功能的预测因素。
IDA 的患病率为 30.4%，在认知表现测试评分（CPTS）较差的青少年中更高（71%）。女性（aOR=0.32，95%CI（0.10-0.99），p=0.0480）、父亲具有初中教育程度（aOR=0.08，95%CI（0.02-0.45），p=0.0040）、就读 B 类学校（aOR=0.26，95%CI（0.09-0.81），p=0.0200）和 C 类学校（aOR=0.08，95%CI（0.02-0.40），p=0.0020））以及非水果消费（aOR=0.18，95%CI（0.06-0.52），p=0.0010）与非常好的认知功能的可能性较低显著相关。此外，铁蛋白（r=0.451，p<0.001）和血红蛋白（r=0.402，p<0.001）与 CPTS 呈中度正相关。
在我们的研究人群中，IDA 的患病率很高，与认知功能差有关。IDA 青少年的认知表现测试评分较低。较高的血红蛋白和铁蛋白水平与较高的认知表现呈中度相关。这些发现表明，青少年的认知功能可能受到 IDA 的中度影响，突出了铁状态对认知结果的潜在影响。
