Table 3.
Effects of multivitamin supplementation on risk of anaemia and severe anaemiaa
| Outcomes | Placebo | Multivitamins | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaemia (haemoglobin<11 g/dL) | |||
| n b | 585 | 599 | |
| Person-months | 3428 | 3694 | |
| Number of cases | 566 | 570 | |
| HR (95% CI)c | 1.00 | 0.88 (0.79–0.99) | 0.04 |
| HR (95% CI)d | 1.00 | 0.88 (0.78–0.99) | 0.03 |
| Anaemia+microcytosis (haemoglobin<11 g/dL and MCV<70 fL) | |||
| No. of Cases | 261 | 287 | |
| HR (95% CI)c | 1.00 | 0.95 (0.81–1.13) | 0.58 |
| HR (95% CI)d | 1.00 | 0.94 (0.80–1.12) | 0.50 |
| Anaemia+normocytosis (haemoglobin<11 g/dL and 70≤MCV<86 fL) | |||
| Number of cases | 295 | 280 | |
| HR (95% CI)c | 1.00 | 0.84 (0.71–0.99) | 0.04 |
| HR (95% CI)d | 1.00 | 0.83 (0.70–0.98) | 0.03 |
| Anaemia+macrocytosis (haemoglobin<11 g/dL and 70≤MCV<86 fL) | |||
| Number of cases | 9 | 3 | |
| HR (95%CI)c | 1.00 | 0.29 (0.08–1.09) | 0.07 |
| HR (95%CI)d | 1.00 | – | – |
| Severe anaemia (haemoglobin<8.5 g/dL) | |||
| n e | 916 | 919 | |
| Person-months | 13,653 | 14,063 | |
| Number of cases | 253 | 205 | |
| HR (95% CI)c | 1.00 | 0.78 (0.65–0.93) | 0.007 |
| HR (95% CI)d | 1.00 | 0.79 (0.65–0.95) | 0.01 |
| Severe anaemia+microcytosis (haemoglobin<8.5 g/dL and MCV<70 fL) | |||
| Number of cases | 203 | 159 | |
| HR (95% CI)c | 1.00 | 0.75 (0.61–0.92) | 0.007 |
| HR (95% CI)d | 1.00 | 0.76 (0.61–0.93) | 0.009 |
| Severe anaemia+normocytosis (haemoglobin<8.5g/dL and 70≤MCV<86 fL) | |||
| Number of cases | 45 | 44 | |
| HR (95% CI)c | 1.00 | 0.94 (0.62–1.42) | 0.75 |
| HR (95% CI)d | 1.00 | 0.94 (0.62–1.43) | 0.77 |
| Anaemia+macrocytosis (haemoglobin<11 g/dL and 70≤MCV<86 fL) | |||
| Number of cases | 3 | 2 | |
| HR (95% CI)c | 1.00 | 0.63 (0.11–3.78) | 0.61 |
| HR (95% CI)d | 1.00 | – | – |
a
Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI were estimated from Cox regression for the contrast of the multivitamins treatment to placebo.
b
n is the number of children without anaemia at baseline, included in the analysis of anaemia.
c
Univariate analysis.
d
Adjusted for maternal age (≤28, >28 years), haemoglobin level (<11 g/dL, ≥ 11g/dL), CD4+ counts (<200, 200– <350, ≥350 cells/mm3), WHO HIV disease stage (I/II, III/IV), antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy (yes/no), sex of child (male/female), birth weight (<2.5 kg, ≥2.5 kg), preterm birth (<37, ≥37 weeks), HIV status (negative/positive).