INTRODUCTION:
It is a sectional study which analyzed data from a population-based household epidemiological study conducted in a municipality in northeastern Brazil.
OBJECTIVE:
Identify anthropometric indicators of nutritional status which have better predictive ability of functional capacity in the elderly.
METHODS:
The population consisted of 316 elderly people who were assessed by a questionnaire containing sociodemographic information, physical activity and health conditions, followed by anthropometric evaluations. Functional capacity was assessed using Katz's basic activities of daily living (ADL) and Lawton-Brody's Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scales, respectively. Body mass index, arm muscle area and calf perimeter were used as indicators of nutritional status. We estimated simple and multiple models of multinomial logistic regression, considering functional capacity as the dependent variable and the anthropometric indicators as variables of interest.
RESULTS:
The study included 173 women (54.7%) and 143 men (45.3%). The multiple regression results showed that the calf perimeter was the only predictor of functional capacity in women (≤ P25: OR = 5.77, p = 0.028, for dependence in instrumental activities), while in men the body mass index was the only associated indicator (underweight: OR = 11.36, p = 0.006; overweight: OR = 22.06, p = 0.002 for dependence in basic and instrumental activities).
CONCLUSION:
The results suggest that anthropometric predictors of functional capacity in the elderly vary according to gender, with the calf perimeter being more suitable for women and the body mass index for men.
anthropometry; aging; nutritional status; frail elderly; health of the elderly