LOSS OF BODY-MASS IN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR

Body mass was examined in the defenders of Vukovar (n = 71) from easte rn Slavonia, Republic of Croatia, immediately on release from enemy co ncentration camps. The sample consisted of a group of 33 male smokers who had been imprisoned for (mean +/- SD) 127.4 +/- 18.4 days (age 31. 6 +/- 7.2 years) and 38 male smokers, imprisoned for 271.6 +/- 14.4 da ys (age 30.8 +/- 6.5 years). According to subjective estimations the p risoners of war had lost 18.4 +/- 6.1% and 21.6 +/- 10.2% respectively , in relation to body mass before the war. For comparison data were us ed on a healthy population of male smokers from eastern Slavonia (Vink ovci, Republic of Croatia (n = 75) aged 32.4 +/- 5.2 years taken from a study carried out in 1976. Data were analysed on body mass, body mas s index, triceps, subscapular skinfolds and percentage of body fat. Al l parameters were statistically significantly lower in males imprisone d 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 registere d in prisonersw of war in relation to the comparative group (5-16%). B asic 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 ha ematocrit were verified in relation to the group of prisoners with lon ger duration of imprisonment (P < 0.001). Although the prisoners of wa r had lost weight during imprisonment in the camps due to the frugal d iet no clinical signs of malnutrition were found. This was attributed to the effect the international humanitarian organizations had on the recovery of prisoners during the last few weeks of imprisonment, and t he tendency to be overweight in the rich agricultural regions of the R epublic of Croatia. The study emphasizes the reliability of body mass index during war conditions.