Effect of decreased haemoglobin concentration on audio visual reaction time

Abstract

Anaemia is defined as the decrease in the blood with haemoglobin concentration and has also been a very important public health issue that extremely affects the middle-income countries. The present study was planned to investigate the association between haemoglobin concentration with audiovisual reaction time. The study was conducted among I year BDS female student population of saveetha dental college and hospital. Based on Haemoglobin values, the study population was divided into two categories. Group 1- Female subjects whose haemoglobin concentration was above 10 G %. Group 2(anaemic group)- Female subjects whose haemoglobin concentration was below 10 G%. Audiovisual reaction time was determined by the audio visual meter. The student's test was used to analyse the relationship between haemoglobin level and audiovisual reaction time The effect of age above and below 20 years also were analysed for haemoglobin and ART, VRT association. Pearson Chi square test was used to analyse the difference between normal and anaemic individuals in the age group above and below 20 years. The results of the analysis revealed that haemoglobin concentration was inversely proportional to Audio visual reaction time.  The association analysis done between age groups with audiovisual reaction time in normal and anaemic participants did not show significant change. Thus, the present study concludes that haemoglobin concentration is inversely related to audio visual reaction time. This may be attributed to lower neural activity and impaired nerve conduction produced by anaemia.