Étude de la pagophagie dans un échantillon de 495 adultes bénéficiant d'une perfusion de fer, et revue de la littérature

Objectives: Pica is a behavioral disorder generally defined as the compulsive consumption of non-edible substances for more than 1 month. The consumption of ice cubes or pagophagia is the type of pica the most closely linked to iron deficiency. We studied the prevalence of picas and their characteristics in iron deficient subjects. Materials and methods: This is a single-center prospective study conducted in Reunion island on individuals coming to day hospitals for an iron intravenous infusion due to an iron deficiency or a recent bleeding. Patients were asked about the presence of pica and its characteristics. The links between pica and demographic/clinico-biological data were assessed in univariate and multivariable analyzes. Results: Our sample included 426 women and 69 men, with a total of 112 picas (22.6 %) gathering only two men. Pagophagia was the most common pica (13.7 %). There was only one case of pica in patients with recent bleeding without pre-existing iron deficiency (1 %). In the multivariable logistic regression analysis regarding the presence of pica, the only factor associated with pica was a young age. In the second analysis, factors associated with pagophagia compared with another type of pica were a young age and a lower hemoglobin level. Conclusion: Pica, especially pagophagia, is a frequent phenomenon in young iron-deficient female patients in Reunion island.