THE ROLE OF BODY MASS INDEX AND DIET IN ANEMIA SEVERITY: A STUDY ON MALNUTRITION AND NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES
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Keywords
Anemia, Body Mass Index (BMI), Nutritional Deficiencies, Malnutrition, Dietary Habits
Abstract
Anemia has been among the most prevalent health issues worldwide and has an excessive burden on the health of pregnant women, preschool children and more than half of women of reproductive age. The goal of the study was to estimate the severity, type, and clinical characteristics of the anemia in the population of 250 patients; the demographic variables and clinical symptoms were considered the priority. The results indicated that moderate anemia was the highest with 47.6 percent of all the participants in that category and severe anemia 32.8 percent, and mild anemia 19.6 percent. The most common form of anemia was microcytic hypochromic anemia accounting to 40 percent of all cases, followed by macrocytic (26 percent), normocytic normochromic (23 percent), and dimorphic (11 percent) anemia. Analysis of the demographic situation revealed that maximum level of anemia existed in the age group of 18-34 years (47%) with a significant difference based on gender, as females (55.4%) appeared to have higher levels of anemia than males (44.6). People living in rural areas as well as those who belong to lower socioeconomic classes, particularly those grouped as below the poverty line (BPL) were found to have prevalence of anemia higher with women in rural areas having more severe forms. Moreover, people with a low body mass index (BMI <18.5) were deprived of the most severe anemia (35.6%). The most frequent symptoms were weakness and fatigue (100%), decreased work capacity (80%), breathlessness (23.4%), and swelling (17.6 %). The clinical manifestation that was common included pallor (100%), splenomegaly (23.6%), and hepatomegaly (21%). The study highlights the much-felt effect of anemia in the high-risk groups, which include the young women, rural people, low-income, and vegetarians. It is important to identify these susceptible groups early and take early measures to help them to reduce physical effects of anemia, and to avoid other complications thus. Moreover, bigger population-based research is also necessary in order to find out more about the underlying causes and enhance prevention and treatment of anemia.
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Dr.Thota Sreekanth
Assistant Professor, Bharath Medical College and Hospital, Selaiyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600073, India.
Dr.Sreechandan Reddy
Assistant Professor, Bharath Medical College and Hospital, Selaiyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600073, India.