Table 1.
Demographic, parasitological, and clinical characteristics of the study participants upon enrolment
| Characteristic | Non-SMA | SMA | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants, n | 304 | 240 | N/A |
| Gender, female, n (%) | 140 (46.1) | 122 (50.8) | 0.268a |
| Age, months | 11 (10) | 8 (7) | <0.001b |
| Axillary temperature, °C | 37.5 (1.7) | 37.4 (1.5) | <0.001b |
| Haemoglobin, g/dL | 7.8 (2.7) | 4.9 (1.4) | <0.001b |
| White blood cells, (×109/L) | 10.9 (5.4) | 13.1 (7.9) | <0.001b |
| Parasite density,/μL | 19,932 (40,097) | 17,262 (41,739) | 0.446b |
| Geomean parasitaemia,/μL | 14,486 | 12,598 | 0.678c |
| High-density parasitaemia, n (%) | 201 (66.1) | 142 (59.2) | 0.057a |
| Sickle-cell trait, n (%) | 49 (16.1) | 6 (2.5) | 0.054a |
Data are median values (interquartile range; IQR) unless otherwise noted. Children with P. falciparum malaria (n = 544) were categorized according to SMA status based on age- and geographically-appropriate Hb concentrations [i.e., Hb<6.0 g/dL, with any density parasitaemia) [4]] and non-SMA (Hb≥6.0 g/dL, with any density parasitaemia). High density parasitaemia (≥10,000 parasites/μL). aStatistical significance determined by Chi-square analysis. bStatistical significance determined by Mann-Whitney U test. cStatistical significance determined by independent groups t-test.