Læknablaðið - 01.09.1961, Page 78

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LÆKNABLAÐIÐ
HEIMILDIR:
1) Wright, S.: Applied Physio-
logy; 1955.
2) Castle, W. S.: Textbook of
Medicine. Cecil & Loeb; 1956.
3) Winthrobe: Practical Haemato.
logy; 1953.
4) Girdwood, R. H.: The Prin-
ciples and Practice of Medicine.
Stanley Davidson; 1960.
5) The Merck Manual 1956.
Skúlason, T. and Georgsson, G.:
Incidence of iron deficiency an-
aemia in Iceland.
ENGLISH SUMMARY:
1) This is an attempt to ascertain
the frequency of iron dqficiency
anaemia in Iceland.
2) Anaemia is here defined as hae-
moglobin less than 14.8/gram%
minus 2 gram %, for both sexes.
The sex difference quoted by
many authors as ,,normal“ seems
to us to be accounted for by
higher incidence of iron deficien-
cy anaemia in women of child
bearing age.
3) In 4013 hospital patients anaemia
was found to be more frequent
among women than men, the pro-
portion women : men being 1 : 1.
4) 635 patients were found to have
no other reason for theiranaemia
than a possible iron deficiency.
In this group the women : men
ratio was 4:1. Of these women
57% were in the age group 15
—47 years. In men the ratio was
opposite, as only 27% were 15—
47 years of age. Microcytic anae-
mia was found in 41.2% of the
women of childbearing age,
against 29% in the older age
groups of women.
5) Many of the anaemic patients
had addional symptoms such as:
a) dyspeptic complaints (achlor-
hydria, constipation etc.).
b) „rheumatic" pains and nervous
disorders.
c) endocrine disturbances and
mental depression,
which possibly could be related to
anoxia caused by the anaemia.
6) Conelusion: Iron deficieny anae-
mia appears to be frequent
among Icelandic women of child
bearing age. Further well plan-
ned investigation of this problem
is advisable, as simple treatment
of this large group of the popu-
lation is likely to relieve them
of their ailment.