Iron deficiency anemia and its association with cognitive function among adolescents in the Ashanti Region - Ghana
Abstract Background 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...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2024-11-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20640-4 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846158184090173440 |
|---|---|
| author | Francis Agyemang Yeboah Joyce Bioh Benjamin Amoani Alfred Effah Ebenezer Senu Oscar Simon Olympio Mensah Alex Agyei Samuel Kwarteng Samuel Kwame Sopuruchi Agomuo Stephen Opoku Samuel Kekeli Agordzo Ebenezer Krampah Aidoo Samuel Asamoah Sakyi |
| author_facet | Francis Agyemang Yeboah Joyce Bioh Benjamin Amoani Alfred Effah Ebenezer Senu Oscar Simon Olympio Mensah Alex Agyei Samuel Kwarteng Samuel Kwame Sopuruchi Agomuo Stephen Opoku Samuel Kekeli Agordzo Ebenezer Krampah Aidoo Samuel Asamoah Sakyi |
| author_sort | Francis Agyemang Yeboah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background 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. Methods 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. Results 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. Conclusion 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-96e352bd1712433db629da9fd0e11b14 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-96e352bd1712433db629da9fd0e11b142024-11-24T12:46:47ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-11-0124111210.1186/s12889-024-20640-4Iron deficiency anemia and its association with cognitive function among adolescents in the Ashanti Region - GhanaFrancis Agyemang Yeboah0Joyce Bioh1Benjamin Amoani2Alfred Effah3Ebenezer Senu4Oscar Simon Olympio Mensah5Alex Agyei6Samuel Kwarteng7Samuel Kwame Sopuruchi Agomuo8Stephen Opoku9Samuel Kekeli Agordzo10Ebenezer Krampah Aidoo11Samuel Asamoah Sakyi12Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Chemical Pathology, Komfo Anokye Teaching HospitalDepartment of Biomedical Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape CoastDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Chemical Pathology, Komfo Anokye Teaching HospitalDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDivision of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Alabama at BirminghamDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Medical Laboratory Technology, Accra Technical UniversityDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Background 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. Methods 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. Results 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. Conclusion 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20640-4Iron deficiencyanemiaCognitive functionAdolescents |
| spellingShingle | Francis Agyemang Yeboah Joyce Bioh Benjamin Amoani Alfred Effah Ebenezer Senu Oscar Simon Olympio Mensah Alex Agyei Samuel Kwarteng Samuel Kwame Sopuruchi Agomuo Stephen Opoku Samuel Kekeli Agordzo Ebenezer Krampah Aidoo Samuel Asamoah Sakyi Iron deficiency anemia and its association with cognitive function among adolescents in the Ashanti Region - Ghana BMC Public Health Iron deficiency anemia Cognitive function Adolescents |
| title | Iron deficiency anemia and its association with cognitive function among adolescents in the Ashanti Region - Ghana |
| title_full | Iron deficiency anemia and its association with cognitive function among adolescents in the Ashanti Region - Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Iron deficiency anemia and its association with cognitive function among adolescents in the Ashanti Region - Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Iron deficiency anemia and its association with cognitive function among adolescents in the Ashanti Region - Ghana |
| title_short | Iron deficiency anemia and its association with cognitive function among adolescents in the Ashanti Region - Ghana |
| title_sort | iron deficiency anemia and its association with cognitive function among adolescents in the ashanti region ghana |
| topic | Iron deficiency anemia Cognitive function Adolescents |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20640-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT francisagyemangyeboah irondeficiencyanemiaanditsassociationwithcognitivefunctionamongadolescentsintheashantiregionghana AT joycebioh irondeficiencyanemiaanditsassociationwithcognitivefunctionamongadolescentsintheashantiregionghana AT benjaminamoani irondeficiencyanemiaanditsassociationwithcognitivefunctionamongadolescentsintheashantiregionghana AT alfredeffah irondeficiencyanemiaanditsassociationwithcognitivefunctionamongadolescentsintheashantiregionghana AT ebenezersenu irondeficiencyanemiaanditsassociationwithcognitivefunctionamongadolescentsintheashantiregionghana AT oscarsimonolympiomensah irondeficiencyanemiaanditsassociationwithcognitivefunctionamongadolescentsintheashantiregionghana AT alexagyei irondeficiencyanemiaanditsassociationwithcognitivefunctionamongadolescentsintheashantiregionghana AT samuelkwarteng irondeficiencyanemiaanditsassociationwithcognitivefunctionamongadolescentsintheashantiregionghana AT samuelkwamesopuruchiagomuo irondeficiencyanemiaanditsassociationwithcognitivefunctionamongadolescentsintheashantiregionghana AT stephenopoku irondeficiencyanemiaanditsassociationwithcognitivefunctionamongadolescentsintheashantiregionghana AT samuelkekeliagordzo irondeficiencyanemiaanditsassociationwithcognitivefunctionamongadolescentsintheashantiregionghana AT ebenezerkrampahaidoo irondeficiencyanemiaanditsassociationwithcognitivefunctionamongadolescentsintheashantiregionghana AT samuelasamoahsakyi irondeficiencyanemiaanditsassociationwithcognitivefunctionamongadolescentsintheashantiregionghana |