COMPARISON OF THE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME OF ORAL IRON AND INTRAVENOUS IRON SUCROSE FOR TREATMENT OF ANEMIA IN PREGNANCY AT BILAWAL MEDICAL COLLEGE (CDF HOSPITAL) HYDERABAD

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the successful outcome of oral iron and intravenous iron sucrose for treatment of anemia in pregnancy at Bilawal Medical College (CDF Hospital), Hyderabad.

METHODOLOGY: This randomized controlled trial was conducted over six months in the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Bilawal Medical College, Hyderabad, after obtaining ethical approval. A total of 100 anemic pregnant women aged 20-45 years, with gestational age ≥12 weeks, were enrolled using non-probability consecutive sampling and randomly allocated into two groups. Group A (n=50) received intravenous iron sucrose, while Group B (n=50) received oral ferrous sulfate. Both groups received equal folic acid supplementation. Hemoglobin levels were assessed at baseline and after four weeks of treatment. A hemoglobin level ≥11 g/dL at four weeks was considered a successful outcome. Data were analyzed using SPSS, and comparisons were made using appropriate statistical tests, with p ≤0.05 considered significant.

RESULTS: The mean post-treatment hemoglobin level was significantly higher in the intravenous iron sucrose group compared to the oral iron group (11.6 ± 0.7 g/dL vs. 10.9 ± 0.8 g/dL; p < 0.001). Successful treatment outcomes were achieved in 92.0% of patients receiving intravenous iron sucrose, compared to 72.0% in the oral iron group (p = 0.01). Stratification analysis showed that intravenous iron sucrose remained superior across different demographic and clinical variables.

CONCLUSION: Intravenous iron sucrose is more effective than oral iron therapy in achieving rapid correction of anemia during pregnancy and should be considered a preferred treatment option, particularly when prompt improvement in hemoglobin levels is required.