Search

Introduction: Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) is a globally prevalent nutritional disorder and an important risk factor for the development of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). A manifestation of IDA is altered electrogenesis in the central nervous system. As women of reproductive age are more susceptible to this form of anaemia it is important to assess their cognitive function. Auditory cognitive evoked potentials/P300 are sensitive in detecting MCI which is indicated by prolonged latency and reduced amplitude. Aim: To investigate the effect of IDA on cognitive function using cognitive evoked potentials/P300 in neurologically intact women. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Central Neuro Physiology lab, Acharya Vinobha Bhave Rural hospital (AVBRH) attached to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Wardha, Maharashtra, India, from January 2018 to February 2022. A total of 260 women were recruited for the study. Based on their blood haemoglobin and serum ferritin levels, 130 women were grouped as anaemic and 130 as non anaemic. The P300 was used as an objective tool to assess cognitive function. Haematological parameters like blood haemoglobin and serum ferritin levels were compared ('t' test) and correlated (Spearman correlation) with the latency and amplitude of the P300 wave in the two groups. Results: The mean age (years) and Body Mass Index (BMI) (kg/m2) of anaemic women were 23.88±3.67 and 20.98±1.45, respectively; and that of non anaemic women were 24.09±3.41, and 21.25±1.27 (p>0.05) respectively. The blood haemoglobin (mg/dL) and serum ferritin (ng/mL) were significantly (p<0.001) lower in anaemic group (10.37±0.95, 8.55±3.78) compared to non anaemic group (13.02±0.70, 27.61±10.52). The latency of P300 wave (ms) was significantly prolonged (p<0.001) in anaemic women (317.75±7.34) in comparison to non anaemic women (311.71±9.02), while the P300 amplitude did not differ between the two groups (p>0.05). A highly significant low negative correlation of P300 latency with haemoglobin (r= -0.48, p<0.001) and highly significant moderate negative correlation with serum ferritin (r= -0.55, p<0.001) was observed. And a negligible positive correlation of P300 amplitude with haemoglobin (r= 0.26, p<0.05) and serum ferritin (r=0.24, p<0.05) was observed. Conclusion: Cognitive evoked potential is an objective method that aids in the early detection of cognitive impairment. Evaluating the cognitive function in anaemic women and ensuring adequate iron treatment can prevent MCI from progressing to severe forms like dementia and other neuropsychological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adequate levels of vitamin D are important for women of childbearing age as vitamin D helps maintain the pregnancy and ensures proper maternal and fetal bone metabolism and fetal skeletal development. However, vitamin D deficiency is a health problem prevalent in women of all ages, worldwide. This study aimed to determine the current status of serum vitamin D levels and the risk factors for vitamin D deficiency among South Korean nurses of childbearing age. Methods: Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) were measured in 1594 registered nurses aged 20 to 45 years who are participants in an ongoing prospective cohort study of the Korean Nurses' Health Study initiated in 2013. The participants completed surveys about demographic and occupational characteristics and physical and psychological health. We examined associations with vitamin D deficiency through multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: The average blood 25(OH) D concentration of the participants was 12.92 ng/mL (4.0–63.4 ng/mL), while the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/mL) was 89% (1419/1594). Multivariable logistic regression showed that significant risk factors for vitamin D deficiency included month of sampling (there was a lower level of vitamin D deficiency in winter than in spring, summer, or fall), age (women in their 20s had a lower vitamin D level than those in their 30s and 40s), and stress symptoms. Vitamin D levels were not associated with body mass index, physical activity, and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: This study showed a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Korean female nurses. Serum levels of vitamin D were associated with age and season. Vitamin D deficiency should be recognized as one of the primary health concerns among young women. More proactive actions, such as vitamin D supplements and food fortification, are needed to improve vitamin D deficiency in high-risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current study explored changes in trend of anaemia and BMI among currently pregnant nullipara adolescent women against socio-economic determinants in India from 2005 through 2015. The association between anaemia in currently pregnant nullipara adolescent women v. currently pregnant nullipara older women of reproductive age was also explored.Design: We used the 2005 and the 2015 nationally representative Indian Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). The outcomes of interest, anaemia and BMI, were measured based on the DHS methodology following WHO standards and indicators. Place of residence, educational attainment and wealth quintiles were used as determinants in the analysis.Setting: India.Participants: In total, 696 adolescent girls from the India 2005 DHS and 3041 adolescent girls from the India 2015 DHS.Results: The 10-year transition from 2005 to 2015 showed differences between the least and most wealthy sections of society, with heaviest gains in anaemia reduction over time among the latter (from 50·0 to < 40·0 %). The odds of anaemia were significantly higher among the adolescent population when compared with adult women both in 2005 and in 2015 (OR = 1·2).Conclusions: Despite an overall improvement in the prevalence of both BMI < 18·5 and anaemia among adolescents nullipara in India, the adjusted risk of anaemia in the latter category was still significantly higher as compared with their adult counterparts. Since the inequalities evidenced during the first round of DHS remained unchanged in 2015, more investments in universal health care are needed in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Whether racial/ethnic differences in prevalence/reporting of sleep disorders exist in pregnant women/women of child-bearing age is unknown. Study objectives were to estimate prevalence of sleep disorders and to examine racial/ethnic differences in sleep disorders, reporting of sleep issues, and amount of sleep among women of child-bearing age (15-44 years) in the US. Methods Through a secondary analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2010 (3175 non-pregnant, 432 pregnant women in main analysis), prevalence of sleep disorders, reporting of sleep disorders to a physician/health professional, and amount of sleep were estimated overall, by pregnancy status, and by race/ethnicity stratified by pregnancy status. Racial/ethnic differences in reporting of trouble sleeping by pregnancy status were examined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results Prevalence of diagnosed sleep disorders among women of childbearing age was 4.9 % [3.9 % pregnant; 5.1 % non-pregnant ( p < 0.01)]. Significantly fewer pregnant and non-pregnant minority women reported adequate sleep (7-8 h) than non-Hispanic white (white) women ( p < 0.05). Among non-pregnant women, odds of report of trouble sleeping were significantly higher for white compared to black (aOR 0.47 [95 % CI 0.36, 0.61]) or Mexican-American women (aOR 0.29 [95 % CI 0.21, 0.41]); non-pregnant minority women were also significantly less likely to report trouble sleeping than white women when controlling for amount of sleep. Among pregnant women, these same trends were found. Discussion Compared to white women, minority women, despite reporting less adequate sleep, are less likely to report trouble sleeping, providing evidence of an important health disparity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]