Malaria and haematologic parameters of pupils at different altitudes along the slope of Mount Cameroon: a cross-sectional study

Table 5 Variation in mean haematological values as affected by clinical status and altitude

Variable	Status	Lowlands			Middle belt			Highlands
		N	Mean (SD)	P Value† 95% CI	N	Mean (SD)	P Value† 95% CI	N	Mean (SD)	P Value ‡
Hb (g/dL)	CM	68	11.3 (1.7)	0.6	12	12.5 (1.4)	0.01^a	8	11.4 (1.1)	0.9
Hb (g/dL)	AM	115	11.4 (1.6)	-0.6 - -0.3	29	11.4 (1.1)	0.3-1.9	14	11.5 (1)
Hct (%)	CM	68	32.5 (5)	0.5	12	42.2 (4.1)	<0.001^c	8	38.1 (3.5)	0.8
Hct (%)	AM	115	33 (4.9)	-2-1	29	37.1 (3.9)	2.4-7.9	14	38.5 (3.9)
RBC × 10¹²/L	CM	68	4.3 (0.7)	0.2	12	4.9 (0.4)	0.001^b	8	4.4 (0.4)	0.8
RBC × 10¹²/L	AM	115	4.4 (0.7)	-0.3-0.7	29	4.3 (0.6)	0.3-1	14	4.4 (0.5)
WBC × 10⁹/L	CM	68	5.8 (2.5)	0.03^a	12	6 (1.3)	0.9	8	7.1 (2.2)	0.07
WBC × 10⁹/L	AM	115	4.9 (2.7)	0.1-1.7	29	5.9 (1.1)	-0.8-0.9	14	5.6 (1.5)
MCV (fl)	CM	68	76.1 (6.4)	0.2	12	86.1 (7.6)	0.7	8	87 (7.7)	0.8
MCV (fl)	AM	115	75 (6.4)	-0.8-3	29	86.8 (5.4)	-5-3.4	14	88.2 (4.8)
MCH (pg)	CM	68	26.2 (1.9)	0.9	12	25.4 (2.8)	0.09	8	26.1 (2.4)	0.8
MCH (pg)	AM	115	26.4 (7.5)	-2-1.7	29	26.9 (2.5)	-3.3-0.3	14	26.5 (2.2)
MCHC (g/L)	CM	68	344.2 (16.9)	0.5	12	295.3 (22)	0.04^a	8	300.1 (4.3)	0.8
MCHC (g/L)	AM	115	342.7 (15.2)	-3.2-6.3	29	306.8 (12.5)	-22.5-0.5	14	300 (14.3)

^a Significant at P <0.05 level , ^b Significant at P <0.01 level, ^c significant at P <0.001 level.
† Statistical significance determined by t-test.
‡ Statistical significance determined by Mann-Whitney U test.

ISSN: 1475-2875