Cross-sectional studyindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-LEG-103 standard review
Haemolytic crises in Egyptian children
Pattern of Hemolytic Anemia Among Egyptian Pediatric Emergency Department Patients.
Overview
Badr MSEM et al.. Pediatr Emerg Care 2020 · PMID 32108744 · DOI 10.1097/PEC.0000000000002053
Over half of children with sudden red-cell breakdown in a Cairo emergency department had G6PD deficiency.
Does the study support the specific claim? Yes · Methodological quality: low
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Describe causes of haemolytic crises.
- How was the study done?
Prospective ED survey.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
143 children.
- What was actually found?
53.1% G6PD deficiency.
- How large was the observed effect?
76/143.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
G6PD-related haemolysis is a frequent paediatric emergency in Egypt.
- What are the study's limitations?
One centre; triggers not detailed.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports the relevance of C-LEG-03 for children.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Egypt-specific.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
It does not quantify fava as the trigger.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Badr MSEM et al.
- Journal
- Pediatr Emerg Care
- Year
- 2020
- Identifier
- PMID 32108744 DOI 10.1097/PEC.0000000000002053
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26 + Crossref works API
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
Not stated in abstract.
2. Research question
What is the burden and pattern of haemolytic crises among Egyptian children attending an emergency department?
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Cross-sectional study – Prospective cross-sectional study in a paediatric emergency department
- Population
Children presenting with acute haemolytic crisis, New Children Hospital, Cairo University
- Country
Egypt (Cairo)
- Period
March-June 2016
- Sample size
143 children (109 male; mean age 36 months)
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Children with acute haemolytic crisis in the ED.
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Not applicable
- Comparator
Not applicable
- Endpoints
Cause of haemolytic anaemia
- Statistical methods
Descriptive
5. Actual results
- Results
76/143 (53.1%) G6PD deficiency; 36 (25.2%) chronic haemolytic anaemia; 31 (21.7%) undiagnosed acute haemolytic anaemia. Authors note that Egypt has no G6PD screening programme.
- Absolute risks
Not applicable
- Authors' conclusion
Haemolytic anaemia is a very common ED presentation; G6PD deficiency is the most common cause (53.1%).
6. Strengths
- Prospective
- Paediatric Egyptian setting
7. Weaknesses
- Single centre, 4 months
- Triggers (fava vs other) not reported in abstract
- Abstract only
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- none applicable
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- some concerns
- Rationale
Hospital case mix; short period.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Proportions among haemolysis cases, not population incidence.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Shows that G6PD-related haemolysis is a leading cause of acute haemolytic crises in Egyptian children (safety relevance of C-LEG-03).
11. Independent contrary findings
None.
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
Egypt-specific.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Supports the clinical importance of G6PD deficiency for Egyptian children.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | low |
| Risk of bias | some concerns |
| Precision of results | low |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | partly replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | high |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
Share of fava-triggered episodes in this cohort.