Hemoglobina como predictor del recuento de hematocrito y hematíes según edad y sexo en una población de Villa El Salvador en Lima-Perú

Abstract

Objective: To assess the degree of hemoglobin correlation as a possible predictor of hematocrit and red blood cell count according to age and sex in a population of the district of Villa El Salvador, Lima, Peru. Materials and methods: An observational, analytical, correlational and prospective study carried out with 550 men and 700 women of all ages who attended monthly preventive-promotional health campaigns, as well as routine medical consultations, from January 2021 to June 2022. Collected data consisted of hematocrit, red blood cells and hemoglobin counts. The Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used. Results: There was a higher prevalence of anemia in the group of women older than 11 years (35.10 %), while hemoglobin levels in most children younger than 11 years were mainly normal. High and positive correlations between hemoglobin and hematocrit close to one were found in all age groups and both sexes. In addition, moderate and positive correlations were found in female infants and girls (Rho = 0.525), female adolescents (Rho = 624), as well as male infants and boys (Rho = 0.597). Conclusions: Hemoglobin levels are highly and positively correlated with hematocrit. Simultaneous hemoglobin and hematocrit testing may be clinically and economically unnecessary in screening and preventive-promotional campaigns on anemia conducted in large population groups. Likewise, hemoglobin correlates moderately and positively with red blood cell in children of both sexes and female adolescents. Further research is needed to deepen the reasons why correlation varies in these groups.