engleski

Loss of body mass in ex-prisoners of war

Body mass was examined in the defenders of Vukovar from eastern Slavonia, Republic of Croatia, immediately on release from enemy concentration camps. The sample consisted of a group of 33 male smokers who had been imprisoned for 127.4 +-18.4 days, age 31.6 +-7.2 years and 38 male smokers, imprisoned for 271.6+-14.4 days, age 30.8+-6.5 years. According to subjective estimations the prisoners of war had lost 18.4+-6.1% and 21.6+-10.2% respectively, in relation to body mass before the war. For comparison date were used on healthy population of male smokers from eastern Slavonia (Vinkovci, Republic of Croatia, N=75) aged 32.4+-5.2 years taken from a study carried out in 1976. Date were analysed on body mass, body mass index, triseps, subscapular skinfolds and percentage of body fat. All parameters were statistically significantly lower in males imprisoned for 271.6+-14.4 days in relation to the comparative group (P<0.0001-0.05). A negative deviation from body mass nomogram was registered in prisoners of war in relation to the comparative gropu (5-16%). Basic biochemical parameters were examined in the prisoners of war. In the group imprisoned for 127.4+-18.4 days statistically significant differences and pathological values of mean corpuscular volume and haematocrite were verified in relation to the group of prisonmers with longer duration of omprisonment (P<0.001).Although the prisoners pf warhad lost weight during in the camps due to the frugal diet no clinical signs of malnutrition were found. This was attributed to the effect the international humanitarian organisations had on the recovery of prisoners during the last few weeks of imprisonment, and the tendency to be overweight in the rich agricultural regions of the Republic of Croatia. The study emphazies the reliability of body mass index during war conditions.

Prisoner of War ; Loss of body mass ; Malnutrition ; Anthropometry

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