title: Prevalence of iron deficiency and health-related quality of life among female students.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalo Universitaire de Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France. M-ange.GRONDIN@u-clermont1.fr
authors.forename: Marie-Ange
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grondin
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruivard
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perrève
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Derumeaux-Burel
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Perthus
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roblin
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thiollières
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gerbaud
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins