1Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, ESIC Medical College & Hospital, NIT, NH-3, Faridabad, Haryana
2Director Professor Department of Physiology, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals, New Delhi
3Head of Department and Director Professor, Department of Physiology, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals, New Delhi
4Ex-Head of Department Department of Pathology, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals, New Delhi
*Corresponding author: Namrata Kahlon Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, ESIC Medical College & Hospital, NIT, NH-3, Faridabad, Haryana, E-mail: namratakahlon@yahoo.co.in
Online published on 2 November, 2018.
Adolescent girls are at high risk of developing iron deficiency because of increased iron demands during puberty, menstrual losses, and limited dietary iron intake.
Adolescent girls between 17–19 years of age with similar socioeconomic background were recruited from the college of nursing for the study. Students having Hb > 12 gm/dl formed the control group i.e. Group I (n=30). Students having Hb < 12 gm/dl and S. Ferritin < 12μg/dl formed Group II i.e. iron deficient anemic (IDA) group (n=30). The following haematological parameters were studied Hemoglobin (Hb), MCV, MCH, MCHC (using Sysmex KX-21 autoanalyser), S. Iron, TIBC (Spectrophotometry), S. Ferritin (ELISA). The autonomic test battery consisted of resting heart rate and blood pressure, Valsalva ratio and cold pressor test.
Resting heart rate was significantly higher in the IDA group. Resting systolic blood pressure was significantly lower (P< 0.001) in group II-IDA whereas Diastolic blood pressure did not show any significant difference between the two groups. Rate pressure product and double product were significantly higher in the anemic group as compared to control group. Valsalva ratio in anemic group demonstrated a significant decline as compared to control group. There was a significant increase in systolic as well as diastolic blood pressure in both the groups due to Cold Pressor test.
The present study reveals the affliction of both sympathetic and para-sympathetic divisions of Autonomic Nervous System as well as increase in mechanical load on heart in iron deficient anemic adolescent girls.
Iron deficiency, anemia, autonomic, adolescent
