ABSTRACT
Objective To study the risk factors on anemia among elderly women in rural areas of Xiuning county, Anhui province, China. Methods Xiuning county was selected as working field and elderly women aged 50-75y were selected as subjects. Finger hemoglobin (Hb) was measured and basic health survey was face-to-face interviewed. 220 elderly women with anemia entered into the ease group; and matched by age, another 220 women with normal Hb concentration entered the control group. Survey on diet, questionnaire regarding health and lifestyle and related blood indexes were studied and tested. Results When comparing the data from both case and control groups, weight was (49.4±7.3) kg vs. (52.5±8.4) kg (t= 3.97,P<0.01 ), waist circumference was (75.8±7.8) cm vs. (79.1±9.3) cm (t=3.85,P<0.01), BMI was (21.8±2.6) kg/m2 vs. ( 22.9±3.2) kg/m2 (t = 3.775, P< 0.01 ), respectively. The total protein was ( 76.4± 5.0) g/L vs. (78.4±5.6)g/L (t=3.83 ,P<0.01 ), albumin was (45.7±3.1 ) g/L vs. (47.3±2.9)g/L (t=5.24, P<0.01 ), serum iron was ( 10.3±4.1 ) μmol/L vs. ( 12.7±4.6) μmol/L (t=5.48, P<0.01 ), and saturation of transferrin was ( 19.0±7.6)% vs. (23.1±9.1 )% (t=4.90, P<0.01 ), respectively. Results from multifactor conditioned logistic regression analysis showed that the odd ratios (OR) for anemia with staple food, BMI and vitamin A were 1.54, 1.89, 1.69, and the OR for anemia with BMI, staple food, animal food, carbohydrate and vitamin A were 2.0, 1.6, 1.6, 1.4, 1.6, with their confidence intervals (CI) as 1.3-2.9, 1.1-2.3,1.0-2.3,1.0-2.1, 1.1-2.4, respectively. Conclusion The quality of diet, health status and related blood indexes on anemia among elderly women were lower than that in control group. Lower BMI, less staple food and animal food, less carbohydrate and vitamin A intake appeared to be risk factors of anemia.