Association between adductor pollicis muscle thickness and nutritional parameters in hospitalized elderly patients

the measurement of the adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT) has been investigated as an anthropometric parameter; however, there are few studies related to hospitalized elderly patients.

to analyze the association between APMT and nutritional parameters in hospitalized elderly patients.

cross-sectional study made in 331 hospitalized elderly patients. The following variables have been assessed: APMT, Mini Nutritional Assessment® (MNA®), body mass index (BMI), arm circumference (AC), calf circumference (CC) and handgrip strength (HGS).

the mean age was 78.4 ± 9.7 years and 56.8% were women. The women had showed APMT mean values significantly lower than the men (12.67 ± 4.13 mm vs 15.26 ± 4.01 mm), as well as the elderly patients ≥ 80 years old showed APMT values lower than the younger patients (12.62 ± 4.38 mm vs 14.83 ± 3.90 mm). In relation to the APMT classification, the women were more frequently below P5 than the men (89.9% vs 37.1%). In the univariate analysis, the mean values of APMT were significantly lower in the malnourished elderly patients (MNA®), thinness (BMI), AC < 21 cm, CC < 31 and HGS < P5, regardless of gender. In the multivariate analysis, APMT remained as a factor independently associated with all nutritional indicators, even when adjusted to age and gender.

APMT has associated with all the nutritional parameters investigated, regardless of gender and age, reinforcing its applicability in the nutritional assessment of elderly people.