Delayed cord clamping and haemoglobin levels in infancy: a randomised controlled trial in term babies

van Rheenen, P., de Moor, L., Eschbach, S., de Grooth, H. and Brabin, Bernard (2007) 'Delayed cord clamping and haemoglobin levels in infancy: a randomised controlled trial in term babies'. Tropical Medicine & International Health, Vol 12, Issue 5, pp. 603-616.

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Abstract

Objectives This study was carried out to assess whether delaying umbilical cord clamping is effective in improving the haematological status of term infants living in a malaria-endemic area, and whether this is associated with complications in infants and mothers.
Metyhods We randomly assigned women delivering term babies in Mpongwe Mission Hospital, Zambia, to delayed cord clamping (DCC, n = 46) or immediate cord clamping (controls, n = 45) and followed their infants on a bi-monthly basis until the age of 6 months. We compared the haemoglobin (Hb) change from cord values and the proportion of anaemic infants. Secondary outcomes related to infant and maternal safety.
Results Throughout the observation period infant Hb levels in both groups declined, but more rapidly in controls than in the DCC group [difference in Hb change from baseline at 4 months 1.1 g/dl, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2; 2.1]. By 6 months, this difference had disappeared (0.0 g/dl, 95% CI -0.9; 0.8). The odds ratio for iron deficiency anaemia in the DCC group at 4 months was 0.3 (95% CI 0.1; 1.0), but no differences were found between the groups at 6 months. No adverse events were seen in infants and mothers.
Conclusion Our findings indicate that DCC could help improve the haematological status of term infants living in a malaria-endemic region at 4 months of age. However, the beneficial haematological effect disappeared by 6 months. This simple, free and safe delivery procedure might offer a strategy to reduce early infant anaemia risk, when other interventions are not yet feasible.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	umbilical cord clamping infant anaemia term birth appropriate technology placebo-controlled trial iron-deficiency zinc protoporphyrin/heme placental transfusion leboyer childbirth blood-viscosity fetal anemia risk-factors folic-acid malaria
Subjects:	WH Hemic and Lymphatic Systems > Hematologic Diseases. Immunologic Factors. Blood Banks > WH 155 Anemia WS Pediatrics > By Age Groups > WS 420 Newborn infants. Neonatology
Faculty: Department:	Groups (2002 - 2012) > Child & Reproductive Health Group
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2007.01835.x
Depositing User:	Ms Julia Martin
Date Deposited:	29 Nov 2010 11:01
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2018 13:01
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/1295

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