ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Psychol.
Sec. Cognitive Science
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1598851
The Impact of Postpartum Anemia on Cognitive Function: A Study Using 3D Video Game-Based Assessment of Reaction Times in Women
Provisionally accepted
- 1San Juan Bautista Private University, Lima, Peru
- 2Independent Researcher, Lima, Peru
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Objective: To determine the visual and risk factors associated with postpartum anemia in women treated at Sergio Bernales Hospital, Peru, in 2022, and to evaluate the long-term cognitive impact of anemia in 2025.Methodology: An observational, cross-sectional, and correlational study was conducted. Data were collected from 184 medical records of postpartum women. Cognitive function was assessed after nearly three years in 30 postpartum women using a 3D video game based on selective attention (Torres-Tejada et al., 2020) and for discussion multitasking paradigms (Mugruza-Vassallo et al., 2021). Statistical analysis included chi-square tests and odds ratios (OR) for medical records, and ANOVA for visual attention.Results: Clinical factors such as cesarean delivery (OR = 3.320), uterine atony (OR = 6.120), lack of prenatal care (OR = 9.117), obesity (OR = 7.120), short interpregnancy interval (<3 years, OR = 9.720), and preterm gestational age (OR = 4.530) were strongly associated with postpartum anemia. Cognitive testing revealed significant differences in reaction times between women with and without anemia (Game 1: p = 0.014; Game 2: p < 0.001 = 0.000145 ), indicating a long-term impact on selective attention and multitasking abilities.Conclusions: Risk factors for postpartum anemia include cesarean delivery, uterine atony, lack of prenatal care, obesity, intergenesic period <3 years, and preterm gestational age.Cognitive testing nearly three years postpartum in 3D videogames showed significant differences in reaction times, suggesting a long-term impact on cognitive health. More studies are needed to study plasticity and long-term anemia impact.
Keywords: Anemia, Postpartum, selective attention, Cognitive Function, Multitasking, ICT , Video game, video game, long-term studies
Received: 24 Mar 2025; Accepted: 02 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Cajas Cerna, Portilla-Fernández and Mugruza-Vassallo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Carlos Andrés Mugruza-Vassallo, San Juan Bautista Private University, Lima, Peru
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