Prevalence of iron deficiency and health-related quality of life among female students.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate prevalence of iron deficiency and examine the relationship between iron status and Health-related Quality of Life among female students.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Data were collected from 543 female students, aged 17 to 38 years, attending University or secondary schools in Clermont-Ferrand (France) and its metropolitan area. Three groups were defined, according to the rate of serum ferritin: iron deficient (serum ferritin < 15 microg/L), iron depletion borderline (serum ferritin 15-20 microg/L), and iron replete (serum ferritin > 20 microg/L). Those 3 groups of menstruating female students were compared in terms of health-related quality of life using univariate analysis.


METHODS
Health-related Quality of Life based on SF-36 questionnaire, and iron status measured by serum ferritin.


RESULTS
The prevalence of iron deficiency was 19.3%, the prevalence of borderline iron status was 11.4%. Regarding the SF-36 questionnaire, the only significant difference between iron deficient and iron replete female students concerned the dimension reflecting 'general health', which was significantly lower in iron deficient group (p = 0.015).


CONCLUSIONS
Iron deficiency seems to impair the perceived general health in female students. Further research should be conducted on this little known subject.
Grondin
Marie-Ange
MA
Centre Hospitalo Universitaire de Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France. M-ange.GRONDIN@u-clermont1.fr
Ruivard
Marc
M
Perrève
Anne
A
Derumeaux-Burel
Hélène
H
Perthus
Isabelle
I
Roblin
Julie
J
Thiollières
Fabrice
F
Gerbaud
Laurent
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D019189:Iron Metabolism Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D005293:Ferritins