MANIPULATIVE AND TOTAL INTELLECTUAL QUOTIENT IN ECUADORIAN SCHOOLCHILDREN AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH HEMATOCRIT AND HEMOGLOBIN

Background and objectives: It is well known that the presence of anemia may affect the development in childhood, including the cognitive functions. However, the evidences on inhabitants of the Andean region are scarce or null. Hence, we studied the association between hematological parameters and cognitive development in children of Ecuador highlands. Methods: Forty-three preschool children, from 5 to 6 years old, of the EVANES study, were recruited. To evaluate verbal, manipulative and full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ), the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) was used. The scores were classified according to the following criteria: extremely low (110) and superior (>120). Also, the IQ was grouped in low (