Anthropometric measurements from a cross-sectional survey of community dwelling subjects aged over 90 years of age.
OBJECTIVE
To measure anthropometric variables of weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and triceps skin fold thickness (TSF) and produce local percentiles for > 90 y old subjects. To assess prevalence of conventional measures of under nutrition (BMI at or below 18.5 kg/m2) or over nutrition (BMI values > 30 kg/m2) in this age group.


METHODS
Community cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Belfast, Northern Ireland.


METHODS
238 subjects > 90 y of age who were apparently well, mentally competent and recruited from all areas of Belfast.


RESULTS
Mean weight was significantly heavier in male 63.9 (s.d. 9.1) kg compared to female subjects 54.4 (s.d. 11.9) kg (P < 0.0001). Men were significantly taller than women with mean height of 162 (s.d. 5.9) cm compared to 150 (s.d. 6.7) cm in women (P < 0.0001). Increasing age was associated with a fall in weight (P = 0.06 female; P = 0.09 male) and in height for women (P = 0.04). Mean BMI was 24.3 (s.d. 3.0) kg/m2 for men and 24.6 (s.d. 5.4) kg/m2 for women with no sex or age differential. 10% of females had values for BMI < 18.5 kg/m2. 11% of female and 2% of male subjects had BMI values > 30 kg/m2. TSF values were 11.7 (s.d. 4.1) mm in male and 12.3 (s.d. 4.5) mm in female subjects with no age or sex-related difference.


CONCLUSIONS
Local percentiles for anthropometric variables are presented for subjects > 90 y. Both BMI and TSF show no sex or age-related difference. Ten percent of females have BMI values consistent with either under nutrition or over nutrition.
Rea
I M
IM
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
Gillen
S
S
Clarke
E
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009660:Northern Ireland; D012727:Sex Characteristics