Analysis of the Nutritional Status in Homeless People in Poland Based on the Selected Biochemical Parameters

Edyta Naszydłowska, Anna Cedro, Edyta Suliga, Dorota Kozieł, Kamila Sobaś, Anna Jegier and Stanisław Głuszek
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Edyta Naszydłowska: Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Emergency Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Jan Kochanowski University, ul. Zeromskiego 5, 25-369 Kielce, Poland
Anna Cedro: Department of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Pharmacology, Institute of Health Sciences, Jan Kochanowski University, ul. Zeromskiego 5, 25-369 Kielce, Poland
Edyta Suliga: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Institute of Health Sciences, Jan Kochanowski University, ul. Zeromskiego 5, 25-369 Kielce, Poland
Dorota Kozieł: Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Emergency Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Jan Kochanowski University, ul. Zeromskiego 5, 25-369 Kielce, Poland
Kamila Sobaś: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Institute of Health Sciences, Jan Kochanowski University, ul. Zeromskiego 5, 25-369 Kielce, Poland
Anna Jegier: Department of Sports Medicine, Chair of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Pomorska 251, 92-213 Lodz, Poland
Stanisław Głuszek: Department of Surgical Medicine with the Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Jan Kochanowski University, ul. Zeromskiego 5, 25-369 Kielce, Poland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional status of adult homeless people using both anthropometric and biochemical measurements. The analysis comprised anthropometric indicators, i.e., body mass index and waist circumference, and the following biomarkers: red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, white blood cells, complete lymphocyte count, neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio, platelets-to-lymphocytes ratio, platelets-to-leukocytes ratio, C reactive protein level, serum iron concentration, serum albumin concentration, total serum protein, fasting lipids and blood glucose level. There were representative Polish homeless people enrolled ( n = 580). The analysis of the conducted studies proved that there is a greater frequency of overweight and obesity than underweight in the target population. The major problem was abdominal obesity that was present statistically more frequently in women than men ( p < 0.001). In the majority of cases, homeless people were found to have normal complete blood count parameters. In obese people, there were statistically significant both elevated and decreased hematocrit levels, a significant decrease in red blood cells, elevated serum glucose, triglycerides and total protein level ( p < 0.05). The presence of abdominal obesity, elevated glucose concentration, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum together with smoking increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: body mass index (BMI); malnutrition; overweight; homeless people; nutrition indicators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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