journal articles
BODY MASS INDEX ESTIMATION ON GASTROSTOMY PATIENTS USING THE MID UPPER ARM CIRCUMFERENCE
M. Pereira, C. Santos, J. Fonseca
J Aging Res Clin Practice 2012;1(3):252-255
Introduction/aim: Body Mass Index (BMI) portrays nutritional status through the equation Weight/Height2. In Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) patients, BMI is easy to determine when gastrostomy is performed. As the disease progresses, patient becomes bedridden, BMI becomes problematic to evaluate. In PEG-patients, we compared estimated BMI values obtained through Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) and regression equations described by Powell-Tuck/Hennessy (BMIPTH) with values from Weight/Height2 (BMIQI), in order to assess whether those equations could estimate the BMI in an equivalent way. Patients/Methods: In an adult PEG-patients retrospective study, we computed BMIQI and BMIPTH at date of gastrostomy. BMI (BMIQI and BMIPTH) was sorted into 3 categories: underweight (<18,5 Kg/m2), normal (18,5-24,9 Kg/m2), overweight/obesity (> 25 Kg/m2). BMIQI and BMIPTH were compared, first globally, and then according to gender and age (≥65/<65). Results: From 157 patients (124 males), aged 20-89 years, most were in normal BMI range. BMIQI and BMIPTH placed most patients in the same categories. There was no statistically significant differences between BMIQI (mean: 20,55±4,34) and BMIPTH (mean: 20,29±4,13). Similar results were obtained in gender and age analysis. Conclusion: Values obtained by MUAC and Powell-Tuck/Hennessy’s regression equations were equivalent to Weight/Height2. These equations can be an alternative for PEG bedridden patients.