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The Older the Schoolchild, the More Frequently Anemia and Deficiency Conditions Are Detected: OLYMP Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Study

OLYMP Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory analyzed the results of tests performed in children aged 0 to 18 years across all of its branches from January 2022 through August 2026. The analysis included nearly 40 million test results obtained from approximately two million children.

The data reveal a clear trend: the older the child, the more frequently various abnormalities are detected in laboratory test results.

In some cases, the difference between younger schoolchildren and adolescents is two- to threefold.

The most pronounced age-related trend was observed in parameters associated with iron metabolism. Among children aged 6–11 years who underwent testing, anemia was detected in 7% of cases, compared with 21% among adolescents aged 15–18 years. Low ferritin levels, which reflect the body’s iron stores, were detected in 14% of younger schoolchildren and 33% of adolescents. Almost the entire age-related increase in these indicators was observed among girls.

A similar trend was seen for folic acid: low levels were detected in 13% of children aged 6–11 years and 33% of adolescents aged 15–18 years. Vitamin B12 deficiency was considerably less common, affecting approximately 1% of younger schoolchildren and 4% of adolescents.

Vitamin D levels also warrant particular attention. Vitamin D deficiency was detected in 41% of children aged 6–11 years who underwent testing and in 60% of adolescents aged 15–18 years. The results also varied considerably by season: in February, vitamin D deficiency was detected approximately twice as often as at the end of summer.

Seasonal differences were also observed in hemoglobin levels. The lowest proportion of results indicative of anemia was recorded in October at 14.4%, while the highest was recorded in June at 16.7%. The difference between these rates was 15%.

As for helminthic infections, they were less common among adolescents (2% of those tested) than among younger schoolchildren (5%).

Deficiency conditions among schoolchildren vary by age and region. According to OLYMP Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory, they were detected more frequently in the central and southern regions of Kazakhstan. It should be noted, however, that the analysis included children who may have been referred for testing because of complaints, symptoms, or other medical indications. Therefore, these data do not reflect the prevalence of diseases among all children in Kazakhstan and should not be regarded as statistics representative of the country’s entire pediatric population.

"Fatigue, pallor, decreased activity, impaired growth and development, and frequent illnesses may be reasons to consult a pediatrician. The physician determines whether testing is necessary and which tests should be performed, taking into account the child’s age, complaints, medical history, and physical examination findings. A preventive check-up before the start of the school year may help identify conditions that could affect a child’s well-being, performance, and adaptation to the demands of school in a timely manner," emphasized Yerlan Suleimenov, CEO of OLYMP Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory.

The study demonstrates age-related, seasonal, and regional patterns in laboratory parameters among children. These data may help parents and physicians identify factors requiring additional monitoring in a timely manner.