OBJECTIVE: This study compared anthropometric measurements (arm span and circumference) used in the assessment of nutritional status of the elderly in relation to Body Mass Index. METHODS: The sample consisted of 308 elderly living in private and public nursing homes in the State of Pernambuco, northeast Brazil. RESULTS: Body Mass Index sensitivity with height being determined by arm span in the diagnosis of malnutrition was 93.5%, with a specificity of 82%. With regard to the diagnosis of overweight and obesity, the sensitivity was 44.5% and 83.3% and specificity 87.0% and 100.0% respectively. Among those diagnosed with malnutrition, arm circumference showed a sensitivity and specificity of 89.0% and 87.0% respectively. CONCLUSION: We conclude that using arm span as a proxy for height when calculating Body Mass Index is a good indicator of malnutrition and obesity; however, the same was not observed for the overweight. Arm circumference was also found to be a good indicator of malnutrition in the elderly.
mid-upper arm circunference; elderly; body mass index; anthropometry
