Iron status and anemia in a population-based study of women with and without disability living in the community: the Women's Health and Aging Studies.

Iron status and associated risk factors were assessed in a population-based study of 684 community-dwelling women, 70-79 years old. Iron deficiency, iron deficiency anemia, and elevated iron stores were found in 5.8%, 3.8%, and 9.0% of women, respectively. The prevalence of both anemia and iron deficiency anemia increased significantly with increasing disability.