The Prevalence of Anemia in Recreational Runner.

, Yoon, Kisung; , Kim, Sang Beom; , Lee, Kyeong Woo; , Kwak, Hyun; , Park, Gyu Tae; , Kim, Won Bok; , Kim, Jung Man; , Han, Jin Young

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2007;31(5):547-551.

Yoon, Kisung , Kim, Sang Beom , Lee, Kyeong Woo , Kwak, Hyun , Park, Gyu Tae , Kim, Won Bok , Kim, Jung Man , Han, Jin Young

¹Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Korea. ak0907@hanmail.net
²Department of Laboratory Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Korea.

마라톤 동호인에서 빈혈의 유병률 조사

윤기성, 김상범, 이경우, 곽현, 박규태, 김원복, 김정만¹, 한진영¹

동아대학교 의과대학 재활의학교실 및 ¹진단검사의학교실

Abstract

Objective
To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of anemia in the long distance runners.
Method
Subjects included 61 long distance runners and 40 control. The 61 subjects averaged 39.9±4.5 years of age. Long distance runners has been training for at least 6 months. Hemoglobin, iron, total iron binding capacity, reticulocyte count, peripheral blood smear, urine hemosiderin were evaluated. WHO criteria cut off value of hemoglobin for the diagnosis of anemia was used, 13 g/dl in men and 12 g/dl in women. Iron deficiency was defined as the percent transferrin saturation less than 15. The percent transferrin saturation was calculated by dividing the serum iron level by the total iron-binding capacity.
Results
Anemia occurred in only 2.0% and 9.0% of the male and female long distance runners respectively and other laboratory findings supported diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia. The percentage of iron deficiency anemia was lower than normal control. Iron deficiency was evident in 6.0% and 18.1% of the male and female long distance runners respectively.
Conclusion
Recreational long distance runners were at no greater risk for developing a frank anemia than the non-exercising population. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2007; 31: 547-551)

Key Words: Anemia, Prevalence, Long distance runners