Mid-upper arm anthropometric measurements as a mortality predictor for community-dwelling dependent elderly

Abstract

It remains controversial whether mid-arm anthropometric measurements are reflected with physical impairment or useful predictors of mortality in the elderly. The inconsistency in terms of the relationship between mid-arm anthropometric measurements and physical function and mortality may be due to the difference in study population, i.e., a healthy younger population vs frail/dependent older people. In this article we overviewed the relationships between mid-arm anthropometric measurements and mortality of elderly based on our studies and previous reports targeting older people. Our cohort study, which was composed of cross-sectional and prospective cohort analyses of 957 community-dwelling dependent elderly, demonstrated that significant higher average triceps skinfold (TSF) levels were observed in participants, compared with age-matched (5-year intervals) those of the standard Japanese population. In contrast, the average arm muscle area (AMA) levels at 5-year intervals were significantly lower than the Japanese norm. The AMA levels of the study participants were correlated with activities of daily living (ADL) score after adjusting for gender and age. Whereas TSF levels were not correlated with ADL function after adjusting for gender, age among study participants. Survival analysis of 2-years mortality was conducted using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. AMA, TSF, and mid-arm circumference (MAC) were independent risk factors for 2-years mortality in the participants. In conclusion among community-dwelling dependent elderly, mid-arm anthropometric measurements were independent predictors of 2-years mortality.