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Simple Anthropometry During Geriatric Assessments: a Useful Predictor of Malnutrition
Author(s) -
Bruce D.G
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
australian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 0726-4240
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-6612.1997.tb01046.x
Subject(s) - malnutrition , anthropometry , medicine , mortality rate , pediatrics , gerontology
Arm muscle area (AMA) has been suggested as a diagnostic technique for malnutrition. In this study AMA was measured during routine geriatric assessments in order to determine whether: (a) malnutrition was common, and (b) low AMA was associated with excess mortality. AMA was obtained in 186 consecutive subjects (114 women, 72 men; age range 53–102) and compared with published control data. AMA consistent with malnutrition was found in 39.4% of the women and 18.1% of the men. After 12 months, the mortality rate in the malnourished women was 42.2% compared with 7.3% in the women with normal AMA (p < 0.001), In contrast, AMA status did not affect the mortality rate of the men (38.5% mortality in those with tow AMA versus 23.7% in the others), Low AMA consistent with severe malnutrition is common in subjects referred for nonurgent geriatric assessment and is associated with an excess mortality in elderly women.