Correlation Between Anemia (Hemoglobin Level) and Cardiomegaly Based On Chest Radiograph and Echocardiography

BACKGROUND: Anemia is one of the major global problems that continues to this day. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, anemia is found in 1.62 billion people or equivalent to 24.8% of the world’s population while, the prevalence of anemia in children under 6 years of age in Indonesia reached 38.4%. Anemia, if undiagnosed or untreated for a long period of time can lead to multiorgan failure. The cardiovascular system is the most commonly affected system in chronic anemia. Between one-third and two-thirds of patients with severe anemia have cardiomegaly and this will return to normal within a few weeks after the anemia is well managed. This abnormality can be evaluated on chest radiograph or echocardiography. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the association between anemia and cardiomegaly. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional which was carried out in the pediatric ward and pediatric cardiology outpatient clinic in the year 2022. The research subjects were children diagnosed with anemia, then they would undergo chest radiograph and echocardiography to assess whether there is cardiomegaly or not. RESULTS: Eighty one children were included in this study. The majority of them were girl, with a total of 43 people (53.1%). The median age of patients in this study was 7.75 years old. In addition, this study also found that the median of patients’ body weight and height were 18.3 kg and 116 cm. In this study, the median hemoglobin level was 10.3 g/dL. For the echocardiography parameters in this study, the median of LA/Ao, EF and FS were 1.24, 65% and 35% respectively.Conclusion There is no association beteween anemia and cardiomegaly based on chest radiograph or echocardiography.