"Serum ferritin is higher among African Americans compared to
Caucasians "

Racial differences in restless legs symptoms and serum ferritin in an
incident dialysis patient cohort.
Int Urol Nephrol. 2012 Jan 5.
Kutner NG, Zhang R, Huang Y, Bliwise DL.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory
University, CRM-1441 Clifton Rd. N.E., Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA,

Abstract
PURPOSE: Restless legs syndrome (RLS), a debilitating sleep disorder
that is frequently reported by CKD patients on dialysis, may be more
common in whites than in non-whites. Iron deficiency is associated
with RLS, and serum ferritin is higher among African Americans
compared to Caucasians in the general population. No prior studies
have compared restless legs symptoms and serum ferritin levels of
African-American and those of the Caucasian patients on dialysis.

METHODS: In a multicenter observational study that included in-person
interviews and medical chart review, we studied 210 patients who had
recently started renal dialysis. Predictors of restless legs symptoms
were examined in a multivariable logistic regression model.

RESULTS: African Americans had a reduced risk of restless legs
complaint compared to Caucasian patients (OR, 0.44 [95% CI 0.21-0.93];
P = 0.03). African-American patients were also less likely than
Caucasian patients to have low serum ferritin values (<100 ng/ml), and
among patients with serum ferritin 100 ng/ml, the average serum
ferritin of African-American patients was higher than that of
Caucasian patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Further study of racial and iron status relationships
could advance the understanding of RLS pathophysiology, and RLS is an
important patient outcome to monitor, as revised anemia and iron
protocols are implemented in the clinical setting.

PMID:22219175

--------------

Thu 06-Sep-2007, 08:00 ET

For Blacks, Southern 'Stroke Belt' Is a Killer

When it comes to stroke, black Americans face a risk three to four
times higher than whites do. Now, new research suggests that African-
Americans who live in the "Stroke Belt" - a large swath of the South
-
are especially likely to suffer from stroke.

Newswise - When it comes to stroke, black Americans face a risk three
to four times higher than whites do. Now, new research suggests that
African-Americans who live in the "Stroke Belt" - a large swath of
the
South - are especially likely to suffer from stroke.

Essentially, the Stroke Belt provides "an extra kick against African-
Americans. The impact is even a little bit bigger" for them, said
George Howard, lead author of a new study and chair of the Department
of Biostatistics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The average ratio of stroke deaths among blacks compared to whites is
6 to 21 percent higher in Southern states than in other states,
according to the study.

Researchers have long known about the so-called Stroke Belt
phenomenon, which they first discovered in the mid-1960s. According
to
Howard, people in all Southeastern states, excluding Florida, are 24
to 50 percent more likely to die of stroke than people in other parts
of the country are.

Howard and colleagues examined 1997-2000 health statistics from 26
states with significant black populations and looked for
discrepancies
in stroke mortality rates among those ages 45 and older. They report
their findings in the September issue of the Annals of Epidemiology.

The researchers found higher mortality among blacks compared to
whites
across the South, even in {*filter*}ia and Florida, states that are not
part of the Stroke Belt. It is as if blacks "sort of get penalized
once for being African-American, once for being Southern and once for
being black and Southern," Howard said.

Why? Howard isn't sure, but he thinks high {*filter*} pressure and
diabetes
play a role.

For now, "we need to collect better information on lifestyle and
dietary factors that will allow us to evaluate whether it's really
lifestyle that's driving the increased risk here," said Tobias Kurth,
M.D., an associate epidemiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in
Boston who's familiar with the study findings.

Ultimately, Kurth said, more details can lead to preventive
strategies
that might reduce the stroke gap.

Howard G, et al. Regional differences in African Americans' high risk
for stroke: the remarkable burden of stroke for Southern African
Americans. Ann Epidemiol 17(9), 2007.

? 2007 Newswise.  All Rights Reserved.

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Tom

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