Calis et al. 358 (9): 888, Figure 2 February 28, 2008

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Figure 2. Structural Equation Model for Severe Anemia, Iron Deficiency, and Malaria.

In this exploratory model of the factors associated with severe anemia,²⁵ the sizes of the associations are indicated by the standardized regression coefficients (range, –1.0 to +1.0). Inverse (protective) associations are indicated by red lines. This model was created containing all possible associations between the displayed variables, after which all nonsignificant arrows (P $≥$ 0.05) were removed. The model also contained all other variables entered in the multivariate model (omitted for clarity). The displayed variables were all adjusted for age; in addition, malaria was adjusted for previous use of antimalarial agents, and iron deficiency was adjusted for a history of transfusions (before the previous 4 weeks) or use of hematinic agents (within the previous 8 weeks) (both omitted for clarity). Replacement of severe anemia by continuous hemoglobin levels and iron deficiency (ratio of soluble transferrin receptor to log ferritin, >5.6)¹⁰ resulted in a virtually identical model. The overall model fit was valid (root mean square area of approximation, 0.043; 95% confidence interval, 0.039 to 0.048).