Abstract Objective: To use mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) as a proxy measure of undernutrition in elderly males of Punjab, India. Design and measurements: Male participants in old age homes (n=215) and community based (n=239) were...
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Objective: To use mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) as a proxy measure of undernutrition in elderly males of Punjab, India.
Design and measurements: Male participants in old age homes (n=215) and community based (n=239) were measured for standing height, weight and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) during … from different areas of Punjab. Chronic energy deficiency (CED) was determined using the WHO international guidelines as BMI<18.5 kg/m2 and normal as BMI≥18.5 kg/m2. Descriptive statistics and percentiles were calculated and multiple linear regression analysis was undertaken to assess the associations between age, MUAC and BMI. Receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed to determine the best MUAC cut-off values to identify CED status. The χ2 test was used to assess significance of the difference in CED prevalence across MUAC categories.
Setting: Old age homes and selected community based elderly of Punjab State, India.
Participants: Elderly males in old age homes (n=215) and community based (n=239) were chosen after obtaining the informed consent. Results: MUAC cut-off value of 22.9 cm among the elderly in old age home and 23.4 cm among the community based elderly were the best cut-off points to differentiate between CED and non-CED individuals.
Conclusions: The present study proposes the MUAC of 23.5 cm to differentiate between CED and non-CED male elderly individuals. There is a greater need to establish statistically appropriate MUAC cutoff values to predict undernutrition and morbidity in elderly across different ethnic groups.
Keywords: Mid upper arm circumference, body mass index, chronic energy deficiency, elderly, old age home.