Association between Two Acute Phase Proteins with Hemoglobin in Preschool Children

We aimed to assess the association between two acute phase proteins (APP), C-reactive protein (CRP) and α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), with haemoglobin (Hb) from cross-sectional surveys of preschool children and compare different approaches for accounting for APP when estimating anemia prevalence. Data from the Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutrition Determinants of Anemia (BRINDA) project were used. Altitude-adjusted Hb values were used with anemia defined as 5mg/L, and elevated AGP >1g/L. The exact age range included in the surveys varied with most assessing children either 6-59.9 months, 12-59.9 months, or 6-35.9 months. Linear regression was used to assess the relationship between APP and Hb. Based on preliminary analyses from ten surveys, the prevalence of anemia ranged from 2%-84% and elevated APP from 6%-64%. There were statistically significant negative linear associations between APP with Hb with Pearson correlation coefficients ranging from -0.05 to -0.50. Children ...