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Large calf circumference indicates non-sarcopenia despite body mass
Satomi Kusaka1, Tetsuya Takahashi1, Yoshinori Hiyama1
1Department of Physical Therapy, Tokyo University of Technology: 5-23-22 Nishi-Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo 144-8535, Japan.
Journal of Physical Therapy Science
|December 5, 2017
Summary
Calf circumference can effectively screen for non-sarcopenia in elderly women. A calf circumference over 32.8 cm helps identify individuals without sarcopenia, regardless of body mass index (BMI).
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nutritional Science
- Biometrics
Background:
- Sarcopenia, a loss of muscle mass and strength, is a significant health concern in the elderly population.
- Early screening tools are crucial for timely intervention and management of sarcopenia.
- Body mass index (BMI) is often used, but its effectiveness in conjunction with other measures needs evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the utility of calf circumference measurement as a screening tool for sarcopenia among community-dwelling elderly females.
- To determine the diagnostic accuracy of calf circumference in identifying sarcopenia across different BMI categories.
Main Methods:
- One hundred sixteen elderly females participated in the study.
- Calf circumference was measured, and subjects were categorized by BMI (<18.5, 18.5-25.0, ≥25.0 kg/m²).
- Positive and negative predictive values of calf circumference for sarcopenia were calculated.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of sarcopenia was 9.4% (10 out of 116 participants).
- A calf circumference cutoff of 32.8 cm demonstrated 73.0% sensitivity and 80.0% specificity (AUC: 0.792).
- High negative predictive values were observed across all BMI groups using the 32.8 cm cutoff.
Conclusions:
- Calf circumference is a practical and useful tool for screening non-sarcopenia in elderly women.
- Identifying individuals *without* sarcopenia using a larger calf circumference is more reliable than identifying sarcopenia based on smaller measurements.
- This screening method is effective irrespective of the individual's body mass index.
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