An epidemiological study on anemia among institutionalized people with intellectual and/or motor disability with special reference to its frequency, severity and predictors.
BACKGROUND
To examine the type, frequency, severity, and predictors of anemia and its relationship with co-morbid conditions among institutionalized people with intellectual and/or motor disability.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study at a public facility for people with intellectual and/or motor disability in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan. Health checkup data obtained in 2001 from 477 people with intellectual disability (male: 286, average age 40.6 +/- 12.3; female: 191, average age 45.1 +/- 11.6) were retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
The prevalence of anemia among male participants was higher than in female participants for each disability category (intellectual disability, 41.1%, 4.2%; cerebral palsy, 37.5%, 4.8%; Down's syndrome, 15.0%, 0%; severe motor and intellectual disabilities, 61.9%, 16.7%). Most participants with anemia (93.8 - 100%) showed a normocytic normochromic anemia pattern. Multivariate analysis revealed that factors related to an increase in frequency included sex (male), low body mass index (BMI), use of anticonvulsants or major tranquilizers, and a high zinc sulfate turbidity test (ZTT) value. No clinically diagnosed co-morbid condition was found to be related to the presence of anemia.


CONCLUSIONS
A high frequency of mild normocytic normochromic anemia in institutionalized people with intellectual and/or motor disability was observed, particularly among males. Medications and chronic inflammation may increase the risk of anemia.
Department of Food Sciences, Ibaraki Christian University, 6-11-1 Ohmika Hitachi, Ibaraki, 319-1295, Japan. h.ohwada@icc.ac.jp
Hiroko
H
Ohwada
Takeo
T
Nakayama
Nobuo
N
Nara
Yuji
Y
Tomono
Keiko
K
Yamanaka
D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors