Anthropometrical evaluation of elderly blacks in the Orange Free State

The anthropometry of elderly blacks (65+ years) was investigated in order to provide a set of values for future reference and comparison with known studies. Four hundred blacks aged 65 years and older were randomly selected from ten towns in the Orange Free State and admitted to the study after informed consent had been obtained from them. The subjects' height, weight, upper-arm circumference and skinfolds (triceps, biceps, supra iliac and subscapular) were measured. Body mass index and hone-free upper-arm muscle area were calculated. It appears that South African elderly blacks are shorter in stature and the males are leaner than persons in the same age group in developed countries. Elderly black females in South Africa appear to be heavier than their male counterparts, and compare well with groups of elderly females in other studies. The findings suggest that sets of reference values derived from studies in developed countries are not applicable to the South African black elderly population

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in elderly blacks

This study invitigated the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in an elderly population with the objective of establishing reference ranges and the diagnostic value of the ESR. Elderly blacks were randomly selected from conununities in the Orange Free State. ESR determinations were done according to the Westergren method. Totalprotein, albumin, immunoglobulin and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured on serum. Results were analysed by means of nonparametric statistical methods. In the group with normal CRP' and inununoglobulin levels it was found that 99% of values were below 44 mm/h for men and 62 mm/h for women. The sensitivity and specificity for these cut-off values (CRP used as 'gold standard') were 33% and 91% respectively for men and 75% and 89% respectively for women

Coronary heart disease risk factors in a rural and urban Orange Free State black population

Objective. To determine and compare the prevalence of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) risk factors in a rural and an urban black population.Design. A survey to determine the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, obesity, central obesity and dyslipidaemia in black subjects 25 years and older.Setting. The indigenous black populations of QwaQwa and Mangaung.Participants. A random sample of 950 households was selected from each area. From each household an unrelated male and/or female subject was selected in a standardised way. From QwaQwa 853 subjects (279 men and 574 women) and from Mangaung 758 subjects (290 men and 468 women) participated in the study. The response rate was 68% and 62% respectively for QwaQwa and Mangaung.Main outcome measures. Few urban-rural differences in the prevalence of IHD risk factors were found in this study. A low prevalence of clustering of major IHD risk factors was noted.Results. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalences of hypertension were 29% in QwaQwa and 30,3% in Mangaung. Oiabetes was present in 4,8% of the QwaQwa sample and 6% of the Mangaung sample. The prevalence of heavy smoking in the Mangaung sample was almost double that of the QwaQwa sample and mostly confined to men. High-risk hypercholesterolaemia was present in 12,5% of QwaQwa and 6% of Mangaung men in the  25 - 34-year age group. The corresponding figures for moderate-risk hypercholesterolaemia were 34% and 44,8% and both levels of risk declined with increasing age. The mean body mass index of women in both samples exceeded 25 kg/m2.Conclusion. All the elements for a potential epidemic of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are present in the study populations. The similarity of findings in the two samples may be indicative of the advanced stage of urbanisation and westernisation of the rural group. It is alarming that subjects in the younger age groups tendeo to have the highest prevalences of moderate and even high-risk hypercholesterolaemia

Books

Technology in blood transfusion Clinical Haemotology. Vol. 3 No. 2. Blood Transfusion: The Impact of New Technologies. Ed. by Marcela Contreras. pp. x + 482. illustrated. R22,SO. Kent: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. 1990.Oncology International Classification of Diseases for Oncology. 2nd ed. Ed. By C. Percy, V. van Holten and C. Muir. pp. xiv + 144. Geneva: WHO. 1990.Chronic fatigue syndrome Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Stnlggle for Health. Ed. by Jay A. Goldstein. pp. xiv + 177. illustrated. Beverley Hills: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Institute. 1990. Respiratory medicineRespiratory Medicine. Ed. by R. A. L. Brewis, G. J. Gibson and D. M. Geddes. pp. xxi + 1559. illustrated. R85. London: Bailliere, Tindall. 1990.Cardiac hypertrophy and failure Research in Cardiac Hypertrophy and Failure. Ed. by B. Swynghedauw. pp. xvi + 696. illustrated. £65. London: John Libbey. 1990.Reconstructive surgery in gynaecology Reconstructive Surgery in Gynaecology. Red. deur P. G. Knapstein, V. Friedberg and B-U. Sevin. pp. xii + 281. illustrated. DM 298. Smttgart: Georg Thieme Verlag. 1990.Menslike anatomie Basiese Menslike Anatomie. Red. deur Linda de Jager. pp. 204, illustrated. Wetton: Juta. 1990. GIFT: from basics to clinics GIFr: From Basics to Clinics. Red. deur G. L. Capitanio, R. H. Asch, L. de Cecco and S. Croce. New York: Serono Symposia Publications from Raven Press.Environmental health Environmental Health Criteria. No. 88: Polychlorinated Dibenzopara-dioxins and Dibenzofurans. pp. 409. illustrated. Geneva: WHO. 1989.Genetic engineering Reshaping Life: Key Issues in Genetic Engineering. 2nd ed. Ed. by G. J. V. Nossal and Ross L. Coppel. pp. xii + 179. Australia: Cambridge University Press. 1989.Doctor-patient communication Talking With Patients: A Basic Clinical skin. Ed. by Philip R. Myerscough. pp. I + 148. illustrated. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1989.