diferencias entre la hemoglobina observada y estimada por hematocrito y su importancia en el diagnóstico de anemia en población costera Venezolana: Análisis del segundo estudio nacional de crecimiento y desarrollo humano (SENACREDH)

Objectives. To evaluate the differences between the observed hemoglobin levels and those estimated based on hematocrit in the context of the 2^nd National Study of Human Growth and Development of the Venezuelan Population (SENACREDH). Materials and methods. 6,004 individuals were chosen by a probabilistic multistage cluster sampling representing 7,286,781 inhabitants from North Central Coastal area (Vargas, Carabobo, Capital District, Aragua and Miranda). Means of observed and estimated hemoglobin (hematocrit/3) were compared, using t test for related samples and linear regression. Results. Mean difference between the values of observed and estimated hemoglobin was -0.3446 ±0.0002 (p<0.001); signifcantly overestimating the hemoglobin values. Regression models of hemoglobin on hematocrit showed an r²=0,87. In order to correct the estimation, we propose a new formula for calculating hemoglobin based on haematocrit values: estimated hemoglobin=(Haematocrit/3.135)+ 0.257. Conclusions: There is an overestimation of hemoglobin levels from hematocrit levels and therefore an underestimation of the prevalence of anemia; however, a high positive correlation between them was found, allowing modeling for achieving a better estimation of the hemoglobin from the hematocrit value.