Aging & Social Change: Eleventh Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Weight measurement is important in the nutritional anthropometric monitoring of the elderly. When measurement is not possible, estimates can be used. This study developed and validated weight predictive equations for elderly residents in long-term care institutions in Brazil. A sample of 393 older adult residents in long-term care institutions participated. Data was collected in two stages: 315 elderly people in the first stage and 133 in the second. Of these, 55 people were included in both data collection rounds. We measured the circumference of the arm, calf, and waist, as well as the triceps and subscapular skin fold and knee height. A multiple linear regression was used to develop the equations, which were evaluated through the coefficient of determination, standard error of estimation, Akaike information criterion, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland-Altmann plot. Five models with different anthropometric measurements were developed: (1) arm circumference as the discriminant variable (ICC: 0.842), (2) best statistical fit for men and women (ICC: 0.874), (3) stratified by sex (ICC: 0.876), (4) easy-to-perform measures for men and women (ICC: 0.842), and (5) stratified by sex (CCI: 0.828). In conclusion, five models for the weight estimation of elderly residents in long-term care institutions were developed and validated. The choice to use the models should be based on the physical capacity of the elderly to be evaluated.