Influence of Turkish origin on hematology reference intervals in the German population

Mayr FX, Bertram A, Cario H, Frühwald MC, Groß HJ, Groening A, Grützner S, Gscheidmeier T, Hoffmann R, Krebs A, Ruf HG, Torge A, Wölfle J, Razum O, Rauh M, Metzler M, Zierk J (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Scientific Reports Nature Publishing Group: Open Access Journals - Option B

Book Volume: 11

Article Number: 21074

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00566-2

Abstract

Reference intervals for laboratory test results have to be appropriate for the population in which they are used to be clinically useful. While sex and age are established partitioning criteria, patients’ origin also influences laboratory test results, but is not commonly considered when creating or applying reference intervals. In the German population, stratification for ethnicity is rarely performed, and no ethnicity-specific hematology reference intervals have been reported yet. In this retrospective study, we investigated whether specific reference intervals are warranted for the numerically largest group of non-German descent, individuals originating from Turkey. To this end, we analyzed 1,314,754 test results from 167,294 patients from six German centers. Using a name-based algorithm, 1.9% of patients were identified as originating from Turkey, in line with census data and the algorithm’s sensitivity. Reference intervals and their confidence intervals were calculated using an indirect data mining approach, and Turkish and non-Turkish reference limits overlapped completely or partially in nearly all analytes, regardless of age and sex, and only 5/144 (3.5%) subgroups’ reference limits showed no overlap. We therefore conclude that the current practice of using common reference intervals is appropriate and allows correct clinical decision-making in patients originating from Turkey.

Authors with CRIS profile

Franz Xaver Mayr Medizinische Fakultät Joachim Wölfle Lehrstuhl für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin Manfred Rauh Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Markus Metzler Professur für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin mit dem Schwerpunkt Pädiatrische Onkologie und Hämatologie Jakob Zierk Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

Involved external institutions

amedes Medizinische Dienstleistungen GmbH DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Ulm DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Augsburg DE Germany (DE) Universität Augsburg DE Germany (DE) MVZ Labor PD Dr. Volkmann und Kollegen DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) DE Germany (DE) Universität Bielefeld DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Mayr, F.X., Bertram, A., Cario, H., Frühwald, M.C., Groß, H.J., Groening, A.,... Zierk, J. (2021). Influence of Turkish origin on hematology reference intervals in the German population. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-00566-2

MLA:

Mayr, Franz Xaver, et al. "Influence of Turkish origin on hematology reference intervals in the German population." Scientific Reports 11.1 (2021).

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