Effect of Anaemia on Cognitive Ability in Female Dental Undergraduate Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Anaemia not only impairs physical growth but also affects behavioral and cognitive abilities. Past studies have proved that increased haemoglobin levels result in improved Central Nervous System (CNS) functions. However, there is a significant lacuna between cognition and anaemia among young adults, especially females. Aim: To assess the cognitive ability of female undergraduate dental students with and without anaemia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 100 young female dental students, aged between 18 and 23 years, who presented in the Department of Physiology, Vivekanandha Dental College for Women, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India, from February to July 2019. Haemoglobin levels were analysed using the colourimetric cyanmethemoglobin method with Drabkin’s solution, and based on this, the students were divided into anaemic and non anaemic groups. Cognitive status was assessed using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), letter cancellation test, and Stroop test. The Student’s t-test and Pearson’s correlation were used to examine the association between haemoglobin levels and cognition. Results: The mean age in the anaemic group and non anaemic group was 19.95±1.80 years and 19.64±1.60 years, and the Body Mass Index (BMI) was 19.54±1.62 kg/m2 and 19.32±1.43 kg/m2, respectively. Haemoglobin levels were significantly lower in the anaemic subjects at 10.408 gm/dL compared to the non anaemic subjects (p-value<0.001). A statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups on DSST scores (21.10±2.99 versus 32.60±14.69), letter cancellation test (25.80±4.63 versus 35.80±4.56), and Stroop test (132.10±8.15 versus 123.56±10.52). Conclusion: The present study reported a significant association between anaemia and cognitive function. Therefore, early screening and prompt treatment of anaemia are crucial for improving both physical as well as mental health.

Keywords

• cognition status
• haemoglobin
• malnutrition
• mental health