[Anthropometry, body composition and functional limitations in the elderly].
BACKGROUND
Functional limitations limit the independence and jeopardize the quality of life of elderly subjects.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between anthropometric measures and body composition with functional limitations in community-living older people.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey of 377 people > or = 6 5 years old (238 women), randomly selected from the SABE/Chile project. Complete anthropometric measurements were done. Handgrip muscle strength was measured using dynamometers. Body composition was determined using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry. Functional limitations were assessed using self reported and observed activities.


RESULTS
Body mass index was strongly associated with fat mass (men r =0.87; women r =0.91) and with lean mass (men r =0.55; women r =0.62). Males had significantly greater lean mass (48.9 kg vs 34.9 kg), and bone mass than females (2.6 kg vs 1.8 kg) and women had higher fat mass than men (26.3 kg vs 22.9 kg). The prevalence of functional limitations was high, affecting more women than men (63.7% vs 37.5%, p <0.01). Functional limitations were associated with lower handgrip strength in both sexes. In the multiple regression models, with functional limitations as dependent variable and anthropometric measures as contributing variables, only hand grip strength had a significant association (negative) with functional limitations in both genders. Age was also a significant risk factor for functional limitations among women.


CONCLUSIONS
Hand grip strength was strongly and inversely associated with functional limitations. Handgrip dynamometry is an easy, cheap and low time-consuming indicator for the assessment of functional limitations and the evaluation of geriatric interventions aimed to improve functional ability.
Arroyo
Patricia
P
Unidad de Salud Pública y Nutrición, Laboratorio de Epidemiología Nutricional y Genética, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología en Alimentos, Universidad de Chile, Chile.
Lera
Lydia
L
Sánchez
Hugo
H
Bunout
Daniel
D
Santos
José Luis
JL
Albala
Cecilia
C
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors