Table 2 Summary of individual study findings on albumin levels in malaria patients.

1

Abdagalil et al.³⁷

Africa

Sudan

P. falciparum

20–40

Not specified

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

No significant difference in albumin levels between malaria patients and uninfected controls

2

Adamu et al.³⁸

Africa

Nigeria

Not specified

1–50

Not specified

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

No significant difference in albumin levels between malaria patients and uninfected controls

3

Adeosun et al.²⁶

Africa

Nigeria

P. falciparum

1–10

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Association between albumin and parasite density

1. Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls

2. No significant difference in albumin levels between high and low parasite density

4

Akiyama et al.²⁷

Asia

Lao People’s Democratic Republic

P. falciparum

Patients with malaria (40): 4–45, non-malaria (31): 5–55

Not specified

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

No significant difference in albumin levels between malaria patients and uninfected controls

5

Amah et al.³⁹

Africa

Nigeria

P. falciparum

30–65

Not specified

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls

6

Areekul et al.⁴⁰

Asia

Thailand

P. falciparum

18–45

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls

7

Ayyadevara et al.⁴¹

Asia

India

P. falciparum, P. vivax

Not specified

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls

8

Balogun et al.⁴²

Africa

Nigeria

Not specified

15–40

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Association between albumin and parasite density

1. Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls

2. No significant difference in albumin levels between high and low parasite density

9

Bhattacharjee et al.⁴³

Asia

India

P. falciparum

Not specified

Not specified

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

No significant difference in albumin levels between malaria patients and uninfected controls

10

Bruneel et al.⁵⁶

Europe

France

P. falciparum

Not specified

Symptomatic malaria

Severe vs. less severe malaria

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in severe malaria compared to uncomplicated malaria

11

Camacho et al.⁵⁷

Asia

Thailand

P. falciparum

Not specified

Symptomatic malaria

Severe vs. less severe malaria

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in severe malaria compared to uncomplicated malaria

12

Conroy et al.⁵⁸

Africa

Uganda

P. falciparum

1.5–12

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Cerebral vs. severe malarial anemia

1. No significant difference in albumin levels between malaria patients and uninfected controls

2. No significant difference in albumin levels between cerebral malaria and severe malarial anemia

13

Das et al.⁴⁴

Asia

India

P. falciparum

Not specified

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls

14

Das et al.⁵⁹

Asia

India

P. falciparum

2–12

Not specified

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls

15

Das et al.⁴⁵

Asia

India

P. falciparum

2–11

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Severe vs. less severe malaria

1. Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls

2. Albumin levels were significantly decreased in severe malaria compared to mild malaria

3. No difference in albumin levels between mild malaria and asymptomatic malaria

4. Albumin levels were significantly decreased in severe malaria compared to asymptomatic malaria

16

Davis et al.⁴⁶

Asia

Thailand

P. falciparum

14–49

Symptomatic malaria

Severe vs. less severe malaria

Did not specify comparative results. Quantitative albumin levels: Severe malaria (n = 18): median 2.40 (2.20–2.90), uncomplicated malaria (n = 14): median 2.68 (2.40–3.15) g/dl

17

Devi et al.²⁸

Asia

India

Not specified

Not specified

Symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls (healthy and febrile controls)

18

Ebrahim et al.⁴⁷

Africa

Ethiopia

P. falciparum

Not specified

Asymptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Association between albumin and parasite density

1. Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls

2. Albumin levels were significantly decreased in high parasitemia compared to moderate and low parasitemia

19

Erel et al.⁴⁸

Asia

Turkey

P. vivax

15–35

Not specified

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls

20

Etim et al.⁶²

Africa

Nigeria

P. falciparum

20–55

Not specified

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls

21

Fisayo et al.²⁹

Africa

Nigeria

Not specified

Not specified

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls

22

Fitri et al.³⁰

Asia

Indonesia

P. falciparum

Not specified

Symptomatic malaria

Severe vs. less severe malaria

Albumin levels were significantly increased in severe malaria compared to uncomplicated malaria

23

Graninger et al.⁶⁰

South America

Brazil

P. falciparum

16–50

Symptomatic malaria

Severe vs. less severe malaria

Albumin levels were significantly increased in severe malaria compared to uncomplicated malaria

24

Hoffmeister et al.³¹

Europe

Germany

P. falciparum

Not specified

Symptomatic malaria

Severe vs. less severe malaria

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in severe malaria compared to uncomplicated malaria

25

Kayode et al.³²

Africa

Nigeria

P. falciparum

14–30

Symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls

26

Mohanty et al.³³

Asia

India

P. falciparum

Not specified

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Severe vs. less severe malaria

1. Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls

2. Albumin levels were significantly decreased in severe malaria compared to mild malaria

27

Nsonwu-Anyanwu et al.⁴⁹

Africa

Nigeria

P. falciparum

1–15

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Severe vs. less severe malaria

1. No significant difference in albumin levels between malaria patients and uninfected controls

2. Albumin levels were significantly decreased in severe malaria compared to mild malaria

28

O’Donnell et al.⁵⁰

Oceania

Papua New Guinea

P. falciparum

Not specified

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Severe vs. less severe malaria

1. No significant difference in albumin levels between malaria patients and uninfected controls

2. Albumin levels were significantly decreased in severe malaria compared to non-severe malaria

29

Ogbodo et al.⁵¹

Africa

Nigeria

Not specified

5–12

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Association between albumin and parasite density

1. Albumin levels were significantly increased in malaria patients with low and moderate parasite density compared to uninfected controls

2. No significant difference in albumin levels between malaria patients with high parasite density compared to uninfected controls

30

Okon et al.³⁴

Africa

Nigeria

P. falciparum

Not specified

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

No significant difference in albumin levels between malaria patients and uninfected controls

31

Olukemi et al.³⁵

Africa

Nigeria

P. falciparum

20–39

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Association between albumin and parasite density

1. No significant difference in albumin levels between mild parasitemia and uninfected controls

2. Albumin levels were significantly decreased in moderate parasitemia compared to no parasitemia

3. Albumin levels were increased as the level of parasitaemia increased

32

Pankoui Mfonkeu et al.³⁶

Africa

Cameroon

P. falciparum

Uncomplicated malaria (94): 6–168 months, malaria anemia (73): 7–156 months, cerebral malaria (45): 6–134 months, cerebral malaria/malaria anemia (13): 9–96 months, children who had come for vaccination or counseling (45 control): 6–156 months

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

1. No significant difference in albumin levels between uncomplicated malaria patients and uninfected controls

2. Albumin levels were significantly decreased in cerebral malaria (but not malaria anemia) compared to uninfected controls

33

Saad et al.⁵²

Africa

Sudan

P. falciparum

Not specified

Not specified

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Severe vs. less severe malaria

1. No significant difference in albumin levels between malaria patients and uninfected controls

2. No significant difference in albumin levels between severe malaria and uncomplicated malaria

34

Sagaki et al.⁵³

Asia

Thailand

P. falciparum

 > 15

Symptomatic malaria

Severe vs. less severe malaria

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in severe malaria compared to non-severe malaria

35

Seyrek et al.⁵⁴

Asia

Turkey

P. vivax

10–32

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls

36

Snow et al.⁶¹

Africa

Gambia

Not specified

1–9

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

No significant difference in albumin levels between malaria patients and uninfected controls

37

Umeshchandra et al.⁵⁵

Asia

India

Not specified

Not specified

Symptomatic malaria

Malaria patients vs. uninfected controls

Albumin levels were significantly decreased in malaria patients compared to uninfected controls