Once Weekly Versus Daily Iron Therapy on Prevention of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Non-Anemic Pregnant Women

Misbah Nisar; Qurra tul Ain; Misbah Hanif; Naveera Saeed; Taqdees Iftikhar; Zakia Ashar

Misbah Nisar Medical Officer, MCHC, PIMS
Qurra tul Ain Assistant Professor, MCHC, PIMS
Misbah Hanif Medical Officer, Federal Government Services Hospital, Islamabad
Naveera Saeed Senior House Officer, ELCH, UK
Taqdees Iftikhar Associate Professor, Akhtar Saeed Medical College, Rawalpindi
Zakia Ashar Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Life Care Hospital, IVF specialist, Australian Conept Infertility Center, Islamabad

Keywords: Iron Deficiency Anemia, Serum ferritin

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of weekly versus daily oral iron supplementation in non-anemic pregnant women in terms of the mean change in hemoglobin levels and the frequency of reported side effects.

Methodology: This randomized controlled study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Centre (MCH Unit 1), PIMS, Islamabad, from March 20 to September 19, 2021. A total of 266 women, aged 16 to 40 years, at a gestational age of 12 to 22 weeks, were included using a predetermined random allocation sequence. Participants in Group A took a weekly supplement of Tablet Ferrous Sulphate 200 mg along with 5 mg of Folic Acid twice on a designated weekday (totaling 120 mg of elemental iron). Patients in Group B continued with their daily supplements: Tab Ferrous Sulfate 200 mg once daily (60 mg of elemental iron) along with 5 mg of Folic Acid. Hemoglobin and Serum Ferritin levels were measured at the beginning and upon completion of the study, and any side effects reported by the patients were recorded. Data were entered into SPSS version 22.0 for analysis. An independent sample t-test was applied to compare the Hemoglobin and Serum Ferritin levels of the two groups to determine the significance of the difference between the two groups. The Chi-Square test was applied to compare the side effects in the two groups, with a p-value < 0.05 considered as significant.

Results: The mean Hemoglobin and Serum Ferritin levels were comparable at the end of the study period. Patients in Group A had a mean post-treatment Hb (g/dl) of 10.96 Â± 0.27, while those in Group B had a post-treatment mean Hb of 11 Â± 0.31 (p = 0.233). Patients in Group A had a mean Serum Ferritin level of 32.33 ng/ml Â± 2.77, and in Group B, the mean Serum Ferritin level was 32.47 ng/ml Â± 3.2 (p = 0.698). Patients in Group A reported significantly fewer side effects compared to patients in Group B.

Conclusion: Weekly iron therapy is as effective as daily iron therapy in preventing iron deficiency anemia in non-anemic pregnant women and is associated with fewer side effects.