Table 1

Cord blood iron status at various gestational ages

Variable Very preterm (24–29 weeks) Preterm
(30–36 weeks) 		Term
(37–41 weeks) 		p Value
Number265068
Gestation (weeks)27.1 (1.6)32.8 (1.9)39.0 (1.3)
Weight (g)992 (305)1904 (555)3338 (512)
Hb (g/l)163 (16)158 (21)161 (17)0.391-150
Reticulocyte (%)4.7 (1.7)3.9 (1.3)3.4 (0.8)<0.00011-150
Iron (μmol/l)17.4 (10.7)20.8 (8.8)26.0 (7.7)<0.00011-150
TIBC (μmol/l)31.0 (27.0–35.0)36.0 (31.5–44.0)42.0 (36.0–49.5)0.011-151
Ferritin (μg/l)75 (44–117)90 (45–142)131 (90–238)<0.00011-151
STfR (mg/l)10.3 (7.5–16.5)8.2 (5.4–12.3)8.4 (6.4–10.6)0.081-151
TfR-F index5.5 (3.3–8.6)4.6 (2.8–7.1)3.8 (3.0–4.9)0.011-151

  • Normally distributed data shown as mean (SD), non-normal data as median (interquartile range).

  • ↵1-150 Analysis of variance;

  • ↵1-151 Kruskal Wallis.

  • Hb, haemoglobin; TIBC, total iron binding capacity; STfR, serum transferrin receptor.