Elderly hospitalized patients are at elevated risk of low zinc but not copper values. The significantly lower values of serum zinc found in the hospitalized elderly compared to healthy elderly are likely to be related to disease rather than to aging per se. In addition to other classic anthropometric (BMI) and biological (serum proteins) nutritional parameters, copper/zinc ratio may be a useful marker of malnutrition.

Objective: To evaluate the habitual salt intake of individuals living in the Co Ãte d'Ivoire, and to monitor the iodine nutrition of adults, schoolchildren and pregnant women one year after implementation of a universal salt iodisation programme. Design: A three day weighed food records with estimation of food intake from a shared bowl based on changes on body weight, determination of sodium and iodine concentrations in 24 h (24 h) urine samples from adults, and determination of urinary iodine in spot urines from schoolchildren and pregnant women. Setting: A large coastal city (Abidjan) and a cluster of inland villages in the northern savannah region of the Co Ãte d'Ivoire. Subjects: For the food records: 188 subjects (children and adults) in the northern villages; for the 24 h urine collections: 52 adults in Abidjan and 51 adults in the northern villages; for the spot urine collections: 110 children and 72 pregnant women in Abidjan and 104 children and 66 pregnant women in the north. Main results: From the food survey data in the north, the total mean salt intake (s.d.) of all age groups and the adults was estimated to be 5.7 gad ( AE 3.0), and 6.8 gad ( AE 3.2), respectively. In the 24 h urine samples from adults, the mean sodium excretion was 2.9 gad (AE 1.9) in the north and 3.0 gad (AE 1.3) in Abidjan, corresponding to an intake of 7.3 ± 7.5 gad of sodium chloride. In the north the median 24 h urinary iodine excretion in adults was 163 mgad, and the median urinary iodine in spot urines from children and pregnant women was 263 mgal and 133 mgal, respectively. In contrast, in Abidjan the median 24 h urinary iodine was 442 mgad, with 40% of the subjects excreting b 500 mgad, and the median urinary iodine in spot urines from children and pregnant women was 488 mgal and 364 mgal, respectively. Nearly half of the children in Abidjan and 32% of the pregnant women were excreting b 500 mgal. Conclusion: Based on the estimates of salt intake in this study, an optimal iodine level for salt (at the point of consumption) would be 30 ppm. Therefore the current goals for the iodised salt programme Ð 30 ± 50 ppm iodine Ð appear to be appropriate. However, in adults, children and pregnant women from Abidjan, high urinary iodine levels Ð levels potentially associated with increased risk of iodine-induced hyperthyroidism Ð are common. These results suggest an urgent need for improved monitoring and surveillance of the current salt iodisation programme in the Co Ãte d'Ivoire.

This study assessed the anthropometric status of 451 hospitalised female patients aged 70 or over, at their admission to hospital, in reference to 77 healthy women of the same age. The most frequent diseases were circulatory diseases (40.8%), mental disorders (29.9%), respiratory diseases (12.4%), endocrine and metabolic diseases (11.5%), osteomuscular diseases (8.4%), and traumatisms (6.9%). The differences were significantly high for mid-arm circumference (MAC), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), weight, weight/height, and body mass index (BMI). The patients with cancers, blood diseases, mental disorders, respiratory disease, digestive diseases, or traumatisms had the lowest values. All the indicators correlated in a similarly negative way with age. The decreased TSF was more pronounced among subjects with respiratory diseases. Measurement of anthropometric indicators, TSF in particular, should be part of preventive measures aimed at reducing malnutrition and its consequences in a hospital setting.

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The aim of this study was to propose determinants of glycaemic control which are useful to adequately manage the healthcare of type 2 diabetes patients attending an out-patient clinic. A retrospective, descriptive research design was implemented at the Centre AntiDiabétique d'Abidjan in 2399 African patients. Glycaemic control was calculated from the average of at least 12 fasting plasma glucose levels measured during at least three years. Logistic and multiple linear regressions were performed at the limit of the glycaemia average of 6.7mmol/l (120mg/dl). The determinants of poor glycaemic control were: long duration of monitoring (odds ratio (OR)=1.66, then 2.68), annual frequency of visits outside the 2-3 per year interval (OR=3.25) and insulin treatment (OR=4.66) in 'non-obese men'; the aforementioned frequency of visits (OR=3.69) and insulin treatment (OR=3.72) in 'non-obese women'; the duration of monitoring reaching the 10-14 year interval (OR=3.48), the aforementioned frequency of visits (OR=2.51), insulin treatment (OR=26.16) and housewife status (OR=1.94) in 'obese women'. In 'obese men', insulin treatment was the sole determinant (r(2)=0.24). Healthcare parameters (treatment, frequency of visits, and duration of monitoring) seemed to be predominant as effective predictors of glycaemic control in our study context. These findings reveal the urgent need for both more concern and further research in diabetes management to improve the quality of care and tackle this health challenge.