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Impact of hookworm infection and preventive chemotherapy on haemoglobin in non‐pregnant populations
Author(s) -
Byrne Aisling,
Manalo Giselle,
Clarke Naomi E.,
Vaz Nery Susana
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.13681
Subject(s) - deworming , hookworm infections , medicine , hookworm infection , albendazole , malaria , anthelmintic , helminthiasis , schistosomiasis , necator americanus , public health , environmental health , immunology , helminths , surgery , veterinary medicine , ascaris lumbricoides , nursing
Objective To assess the impact of hookworm infection and preventive chemotherapy on haemoglobin levels in non‐pregnant populations in endemic areas. Method Systematic review and meta‐analysis searching PubMed and Web of Science for articles published since 2010 reporting either hookworm prevalence and Hb concentration (cross‐sectional studies) or Hb concentration before and after the implementation of preventive chemotherapy (before–after studies and randomised controlled trials [RCTs]). For papers published before 2010, data were extracted from a previously published systematic review. Random effects meta‐analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between Hb concentration and hookworm infection intensity (from cross‐sectional studies) and the effect of preventive chemotherapy on Hb concentration (from before–after studies and RCTs). Sensitivity analyses investigated the impact of malaria endemicity and combined interventions for schistosomiasis and nutrition status on Hb concentration. Results Among cross‐sectional studies, both light‐ and heavy‐intensity hookworm infections were associated with lower Hb in school‐aged children. School‐aged children with heavy hookworm infection in settings of high malaria endemicity had lower mean Hb than those in settings of low malaria endemicity. In non‐pregnant populations, deworming with albendazole was associated with an increase in Hb of 3.02 g/L (95% CI 0.1, 6.0 g/L). No additional benefit was seen with deworming using albendazole co‐administered with praziquantel for schistosomiasis infection or iron supplementation for nutrition status. Conclusion Our findings confirm the benefits of preventive chemotherapy as a public health intervention.