Descriptive analysis of the prevalence of anemia in a randomly selected sample of elderly people living at home: some results of an Italian multicentric study.

We studied hematological indexes (RBC, HB, HT, MCV), serum iron and serum ferritin values in 1784 randomly selected subjects aged 65 and over (725 males and 1059 females) divided into five age groups (65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, > or = 85 years). The subjects were classified as anemic and normochromic according to the criteria for a "geriatric" level of anemia (HB < or = 12 g/dL in both sexes) as well as "W.H.O." levels for anemia (HB < 13 g/dL in males and < 12 g/dL in females). Macrocytosis (MCV > 100 fl) and low serum ferritin level (< or = 12 ng/dL) were classified according to MCV and serum ferritin values. Mean HB values in males were 14.85 +/- 1.33; 14.82 +/- 1.40; 14.77 +/- 1.43; 14.59 +/- 1.47 and 13.83 +/- 1.13 in the five age groups (65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84 and > or = 85 years) respectively; in females, they were 13.77 +/- 1.15; 13.75 +/- 1.27; 13.44 +/- 1.39; 13.44 +/- 1.52 and 13.34 +/- 1.61, respectively. There was a low frequency of anemia in the entire sample: 2.9% in males and 9.9% in females according to the "geriatric" level, and 9.4% in males and 8.8% in females according to the "W.H.O." level. There was a higher prevalence of macrocytosis in males (6.3%) than in females (3.3%). We conclude that red cell parameters tend to decrease in aging, and further investigations are needed that exclude persons with existing chronic conditions, and incorporate data on nutritional status.

Assessment of abdominal fat distribution in obese patients: anthropometry versus computerized tomography.

The accuracy of waist to hip girth ratio (WHR) in assessing visceral/subcutaneous abdominal fat distribution has not yet been clearly established in the obese population. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between WHR and visceral/subcutaneous fat distribution, both assessed by computerized tomography (CT), in a group of 28 obese patients (15 male, 13 female). Furthermore, 33 normal weight or slightly overweight subjects (23 male, 10 female) were studied as a control group. Obese subjects of both sexes were found to have higher values of WHR than non-obese; conversely visceral:subcutaneous fat area ratio (VSR) values did not differ significantly. Significant correlation between WHR and BMI was present both in males (r = 0.41, P < 0.01) and in females (r = 0.54, P < 0.01). In normal weight males significant correlations between WHR and visceral fat area or VSR were found. In obese males these correlations were much weaker. In normal weight females a significant correlation was found between waist circumference and visceral fat area, whereas in obese females no positive correlations were found between anthropometric measurements and CT indices of visceral fat distribution. In conclusion, WHR cannot be considered as a reliable index of visceral/subcutaneous fat distribution in obese patients, particularly if they are females.

[Waist to hip ratio and the distribution of adipose tissue]. / WHR e distribuzione del tessuto adiposo.

The aim of the study was to assess the relation between the waist to hips ratio (WHR) and the distribution of adipose tissue in visceral or subcutaneous site through the use of CAT. Results are expressed as the ratio of visceral to subcutaneous adipose tissue area (VSR). A total of 61 patients were randomly selected for inclusion in the study. Contrary to normal weight subjects, obese patients did not reveal significant correlations between the two ratios. Following multi-variant analysis in normal weight subjects, WHR appeared to be influenced by sex, BMI and VSR. In patients with prevalently visceral adiposity WHR was determined by sex and VSR, whereas in patients with prevalently subcutaneous adiposity it was influenced by BMI alone. In conclusion, the significant correlations between WHR and tomographic indices of adipose tissue distribution reported in the literature are not present in all types of patient, and in particular are not found in obese patients and normal weight subjects with prevalently subcutaneous adiposity.