Hegge H H M, Wielders J P M, Slaets J P J
Klinisch geriater in opleiding, Academisch Ziekenhuis Groningen, Postbus 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen.
Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr. 2002 Apr;33(2):64-9.
We studied the prevalence of zinc deficiency in patients who were hospitalised in a geriatric ward and its association with risk factors for this deficiency and the possible symptoms. The serum zinc level was measured from 45 consecutive admissions to a geriatric ward and patient characteristics were collected. A peer group of healthy subjects originating from a population survey was used as a control group. The serum zinc measured in the admitted patients was significantly lower than the reference value for adults (65.8% had a lowered zinc level) and the serum zinc for healthy elderly. There was no association found with possible causes of zinc deficiency. In an univariate analysis lethargy was the only significant association to zinc deficiency. There was a reverse relationship between the sum of the number of present symptoms and the zinc proportion A lower zinc level is associated with symptoms of zinc deficiency. As more symptoms appear the probability of zinc deficiency is greater. The importance for the clinical practice based on present knowledge is discussed.
我们研究了老年病房住院患者锌缺乏的患病率及其与锌缺乏风险因素和可能症状的关联。对连续45例入住老年病房的患者测量血清锌水平并收集患者特征。将来自人群调查的健康受试者同龄组作为对照组。入院患者的血清锌显著低于成人参考值（65.8%的患者锌水平降低）以及健康老年人的血清锌水平。未发现与锌缺乏的可能原因有关联。在单因素分析中，嗜睡是与锌缺乏唯一显著相关的因素。当前症状数量总和与锌比例之间存在反向关系。锌水平较低与锌缺乏症状相关。出现的症状越多，锌缺乏的可能性越大。基于现有知识讨论了其在临床实践中的重要性。
