Mid-arm Circumference (mid-arm + circumference)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Eating problems at age 6 years in a whole population sample of extremely preterm children

DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 2 2010
MUTHANNA SAMARA
Aim, The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of eating problems and their association with neurological and behavioural disabilities and growth among children born extremely preterm (EPC) at age 6 years. Method, A standard questionnaire about eating was completed by parents of 223 children (125 males [56.1%], 98 females [43.9%]) aged 6 years who were born at 25 weeks' gestation or earlier (mean 24.5wks, SD 0.7wks; mean birthweight 749.1g, SD 116.8g), and parents of 148 classmates born at term (66 males [44.6%], 82 females [55.4%]). All children underwent neurological, cognitive, and anthropometric assessment, and parents and teachers completed a behaviour scale. Results, Eating problems were more common among the EPC than the comparison group (odds ratio [OR] 3.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1,6.3), including oral motor (OR 5.2, 95% CI 2.8,9.9), hypersensitivity (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.6,5.6), and behavioural (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.9,7.6) problems. Group differences were reduced after adjustment for cognitive impairment, neuromotor disability, and other behaviour problems. EPC with eating problems were shorter, lighter, and had lower mid-arm circumference and lower body mass index (BMI) even after adjusting for disabilities, gestational age, birthweight, and feeding problems at 30 months. Interpretation, Eating problems are still frequent in EPC at school age. They are only partly related to other disabilities but make an additional contribution to continued growth failure and may require early recognition and intervention. [source]


Two new potent and convenient predictors of mortality in older nursing home residents in Japan

GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2004
Orie Tajima
Background: Malnourishment is closely connected with poor health outcomes in frail elderly. However, the relative importance of specific nutritional predictors of mortality remains unclear in the Japanese population. We investigated the potent nutritional factors associated with mortality from nutritional assessments of three parameters in Japanese frail elderly. Methods: Ninety residents in a nursing home in Japan, aged 65 and over (18 men, 72 women; mean age 82.2 ± 8.0 years) were enrolled in a 38-month follow-up study. The eligibility condition for analysis was having lived at the nursing home for more than 30 days, so three participants were excluded. Three nutritional parameters, which included: anthropometric measurements (body mass index, mid-arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness and calf circumference); serum markers (albumin, total protein, prealbumin, retinol binding protein and total cholesterol); and food intake, were assessed. After categorizing each putative factor according to tertile distribution, risk of mortality was analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models. Results: At the end of the 38-month follow-up period, 29 participants had died. After adjustment for gender, age, clinical status, and functional status, three indicators (i.e. mid-arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness and lipid intake) showed a significant relationship with mortality. When all of the putative factors were included in a stepwise procedure, mid-arm circumference and lipid intake were significantly associated with adjusted mortality. Conclusion: Among institutionalized Japanese frail elderly, lower levels of mid-arm circumference and lipid intake could potently predict an increased risk of mortality. These two indicators may be useful for many kinds of assessments and intervention for the improvement of health conditions in Japanese frail elderly. [source]


Nutrition Risk Factors for Survival in the Elderly Living in Canadian Long-Term Care Facilities

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 1 2004
Johane P. Allard MD
Objectives: To determine the role of nutritional parameters in influencing the risk of mortality in institutionalized elderly. Design: A prospective cohort study in which subjects had several nutritional parameters measured at baseline and were followed for 19 months. Time to death and mortality were recorded starting immediately after enrollment. Setting: Fourteen long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Participants: Four hundred eight elderly long-term care residents aged 60 and older who resided in the facility for more than 6 weeks. Measurements: At baseline, knee height, weight, mid-arm circumference (MAC), skin-fold thickness, and fat-free mass using bioelectric impedance analysis were measured. Covariates included demographic factors, length of stay in the facility, functional status, and medical diagnoses. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of mortality. Results are reported as mean±standard error of the mean (SEM). Results: Overall, mortality rate was 28.4%. Univariate predictors included male sex, body mass index, MAC, and triceps skin fold. In multivariate analysis, male sex (hazard ratio (HR)=1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.2,2.7, P=.0096) and MAC less than 26 cm were significantly associated with increased risk of mortality (HR=4.8, 95% CI: 2.8,8.3, P<.0001). Conclusion: Among this elderly population living in LTCFs, MAC is the best nutritional predictor of mortality. [source]


An observational study of screening for malnutrition in elderly people living in sheltered accommodation

JOURNAL OF HUMAN NUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 1 2008
D. G. Harris
Abstract Background, Elderly people are particularly at risk of malnutrition. There is no consensus regarding the optimal malnutrition screening test for elderly people and little is known about the prevalence of malnutrition in elderly people living in sheltered housing. Method, An observational study comparing sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of the following screening measures in elderly people living in sheltered accommodation: body mass index, mid-arm circumference, albumin, haemoglobin, lymphocyte count, cholesterol and the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). A dietitian assessment was used as the gold standard to establish whether there was a risk of malnutrition. Results, Of 100 people recruited (31 male and 69 female with average age 79.3 years) ten were categorized at risk by the dietitian assessment. The MUST score was the most sensitive and specific screening measure (100% and 98% respectively) with a negative predictive value of 1. The sensitivity and specificity of the other measures were: MNA 80% and 90%, mid-arm circumference 70% and 99%, BMI 60% and 90%, albumin 30% and 77%, haemoglobin 50% and 61%, lymphocyte count 20% and 86%, low cholesterol 30% and 90%. Conclusions, Ten per cent of elderly people in sheltered housing are at risk of malnutrition. The MUST screening tool is a sensitive and specific method of identifying those requiring further nutritional assessment. [source]