Evidence mapPaperPMID 41796284Full record

ArticleBMC pediatrics2026

Prevalence of anemia and its association with asthma control in school-aged children: a cross-sectional study in Karachi, Pakistan (2025).

Burhanuddin Shabbir, Muhammad Osama Sheikh, Aneela Pasha, Shahiryar Khan, Ana Parveen, Fyezah Jehan

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Article in BMC pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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6 authors.

Burhanuddin ShabbirDepartment of Pediatrics & Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Muhammad Osama SheikhDepartment of Pediatrics & Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Aneela PashaDepartment of Pediatrics & Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Shahiryar KhanDepartment of Pediatrics & Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Ana ParveenDepartment of Pediatrics & Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Fyezah JehanDepartment of Pediatrics & Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. fyezah.jehan@aku.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAsthma is a frequently encountered paediatric health problem, with various factors influencing disease control, including anemia. Anemia, regardless of the cause, is as an independent risk factor for lower respiratory tract infections but its association with asthma has not been thoroughly explored. Hence, we conducted this study to determine the frequency of anemia in asthmatic children and its effect, if any, on asthma control.

methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in children of 6–15 years attending public or private schools in Karachi from February to March 2025. A non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to include the schools and asthmatic children. Asthmatic children were identified through physician-based diagnosis or self/parent-reported symptoms of asthma. Control of asthma was assessed using the GINA symptom control assessment. Anemia was identified using the HemoCue device with age appropriate haemoglobin cut-offs.

resultsAmong 198 asthmatic children studied, anemia was present in 46.0% of participants. Male asthmatics were associated with lower odds of anemia (aOR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.23–0.75, p = 0.003) and partly controlled asthma (aOR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.25–4.70, p = 0.009) was significantly associated with higher odds of anemia. Children exposed to cigarette smoke were over twice as likely to be anemic (aOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.03–4.10, p = 0.042). No significant associations were found between anemia and clinical symptoms of asthma, school category, or maternal education level.

conclusionWe found a high prevalence of anemia in asthmatic children and the study highlights a notable association with anemic children who are more likely to have partly controlled asthma. These findings suggest that anemia may be an under-recognized factor associated with asthma control, prompting routine screening and management of anemia in asthmatic children.

Indexed as

AnemiaAsthmaAdolescentChildCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMalePakistanPrevalenceRisk FactorsAnemiaAsthmaControl of asthmaKarachi

Identifiers

PMID41796284
PMCPMC13085432

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