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Table 2 Participant characteristics in third trimester, pre-operatively, intraoperatively, postoperatively and at discharge from hospital. Values are mean (SD), or number and percentage

From: The prevalence of perioperative iron deficiency anaemia in women undergoing caesarean section—a retrospective cohort study

Characteristic

Whole group

GROUP 1

No anaemia at first hospital appointment

Hb

≥ 130 g/L

GROUP 2

Mild anaemia at first hospital appointment

Hb

1109 - 129 g/L

GROUP 3

Moderate anaemia

at first hospital appointment

Hb

80 - 109 g/L

P value*

Third trimester - Gestation of haemoglobin measurement (weeks)

27.6 (1.87)

27.4 (1.7)

27.6 (1.9)

28.5 (2.4)

0.0212

Third trimester - Haemoglobin concentration (g/L)

114.6 (10.57)

119.2 (8.4)

112.2 (10.6)

104.5 (9.3)

<0.0001

Third trimester – Women with anaemia Hb <130 (n, %)

331/352a (94.0%)

124/141 (87.9%)

179/183 (97.8%)

24/24 (100%)

0.0005

Preoperative - Gestation at caesarean section (weeks)

37.91 (2.79)

38.0 (2.8)

38.1 (2.6)

36.9 (3.4)

0.0835

Preoperative - Haemoglobin concentration (g/L)

124.10 (12.42)

128.2 (11.5)

122.4 (11.6)

111.5 (14.1)

<0.0001

Preoperative – Women with anaemia, Hb <130 (n, %)

318/482b (66.0%)

108/202 (53.5%)

175/239 (73.2%)

27/31 (87.1%)

<0.0001

Preoperative - Weight (kg)

80.9 (16.80)

82.3 (15.9)

79.5 (17.7)

82.0 (16.0)

0.9959

Preoperative - Body mass index (kg/m2)

30.5 (5.83)

31.0 (5.7)

29.9 (5.9)

31.1 (5.7)

0.2958

Preoperative – Classified as emergency caesarean section (n, %)

271/486 (55.8%)

116/204 (57%)

131/239 (55%)

18/33 (54.5%)

0.9022

Intraoperative - Estimated blood loss (mL)

438.6 (341.7)

429.1 (225.9)

448.3 (428.8)

421.2 (236.2)

0.8049

Postoperative - Hospital length of stay (days)

4.1 (2.3)

4.1 (2.1)

4.1 (2.4)

4.3 (2.8)

0.901

Discharge - Haemoglobin concentration (g/L)

108.0 (13.6)

111.8 (13.0)

105.7 (13.4)

95.8 (11.9)

0.0001

Discharge - Women with discharge anaemiac, Hb <130 g/L (n, %)

193/202c (95.5%)

82/88 (93%)

95/98 (98%)

10/10 (100%)

0.3036

  1. *Difference between Group 1,2 and 3
  2. This table shows serial data throughout the peri-operative period for the whole group as well as data for the three groups of women classified as having no anaemia, mild anaemia, or moderate anaemia at their first hospital appointment.
  3. a352 women out of the whole group had third trimester haemoglobin concentration measured. Of the 10 women who did not have first antenatal appointment haemoglobin concentration measured, four had 3rd trimester haemoglobin concentration measured, and all four women were anaemic (Hb < 130 g/L)
  4. bFour hundred eighty-two women out of the whole group had pre-operative haemoglobin concentration measured. Of the 10 women who did not have first antenatal appointment haemoglobin concentration measured, all 10 had pre-operative haemoglobin concentration measured and eight women were anaemic (Hb < 130 g/L).
  5. cTwo hundred two women out of the whole group had discharge haemoglobin concentration measured. Of the 10 women who did not have first antenatal appointment haemoglobin concentration measured, six had discharge haemoglobin concentration measured and all six women had haemoglobin concentration <130 g/L.