Anemia Is Prevalent in an Urban, African-American Adolescent Population
Loren Leshan, MD;
Mark Gottlieb, PhD;
David Mark, MD, MPH
Arch Fam Med. 1995;4(5):433-437.
Abstract
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Objective
To determine the prevalence of anemia in urban indigent African-American adolescents.
Design
Cross-sectional sample of hemoglobin values.
Setting
School-based clinic and health fair in an innercity, predominantly African-American public high school.
Subjects
Ninety-nine adolescents presenting for preparticipation athletic physical examinations between August and December 1990 and 76 adolescents participating in screening activities at a high school health fair on March 12, 1991.
Methods
Finger-stick and venipuncture hemoblogin samples were obtained from presumably healthy adolescents. The percentage of anemic students was determined by means of a hemoglobin cutoff of less than 120 g/L, and with the exclusion of samples from pregnant students or those positive for sickle cell trait or disease.
Main Outcome Measures
Hemoglobin values in 169 students.
Results
The mean±SD hemoglobin level for girls was 115± 15 g/L; 50% of the girls had hemoglobin levels less than 120 g/L. The mean hemoglobin level for boys was 129±13 g/L; 16.5% of boys had hemoglobin levels less than 120 g/L.
Conclusion
Anemia may be a common condition in inner-city African-American adolescents.
Author Affiliations
From the Family Practice Center, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
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