RT Journal Article
T1 The calf circumference as a quick-reliable marker of malnutrition in hospitalized elderly. Its relation with age and gender
A1 Lopez Lirola, Emilia Maria
A1 Iribar Ibabe, Maria Concepcion
A1 Peinado Herreros, Jose Maria
K1 Nutrition assessment
K1 Calf circumference
K1 Elderly frail
K1 Albumin
K1 MNA
K1 Subjective global assessment
K1 Mini nutritional assessment
K1 Risk
K1 Prevalence
K1 Admission
K1 Costs
K1 Tool
AB Introduction: Malnutrition in the hospitalized elderly is very common, and it frequently predicts, not only the lengthened hospital stay, but also the prognosis and other adverse pathologies. Nutritional assessment can be based on anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters and nutritional tests.Objectives: To evaluate if the calf circumference is a valid indicator of malnutrition in the elderly patient recently hospitalized, analysing the possible influence of sex and age.Material and methods: A descriptive study in 907 pluripathological elderly patients has been performed upon arrival to the Hospital. The average age was 82,13 +/- 7,08 years. Number of lymphocytes, total cholesterol, plasma transferrin and plasma albumin were evaluated. In addition the nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment, Nutritional Risk Screening and subjective Global assessment tests. Finally it was determined the calf circumference.Results: Nutritional tests show a malnutrition average near to 75%. Biochemical parameters show a percentage of malnutrition ranging from 63.4% to 76.7% and the results for the calf circumference were 74.2%. The prevalence of malnutrition is higher in women, regardless of the parameter used. Age, particularly from 85 years, increases the malnutrition risk under all parameters. All parameters are correlated with the calf circumference, settling the concept "be malnourished" in the cut-off point of 29 cm, for both sexes and in all different age groups (sensitivity 99.31%).Conclusions: 75% of the elderly population presents malnutrition upon arrival at the hospital. Calf circumference is an easy marker of malnutrition in the elderly, with high sensitivity and reliability, independently of sex and age.
PB Aran ediciones, s l
SN 0212-1611
YR 2016
FD 2016-05-01
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10668/24927
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10668/24927
LA es
DS RISalud
RD Apr 11, 2025