title: Relationship between Mid-Upper Arm Circumference and Body Mass Index in Inpatients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nutritional screening is a fundamental aspect of the initial evaluation of the hospitalised patient. Body Mass Index (BMI) in association with other parameters is a good marker of malnutrition (<18.5 kg/m2), but it presents the handicap that the great majority of patients cannot be weighed and measured. For this reason it is necessary to find other indicators that can be measured in these patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  1) Analyse the relationship between BMI and Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC); 2) establish a cut-off point of MUAC equivalent to BMI <18.5 kg/m2.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anthropometric data of patients hospitalised over the period 2004-2013 were retrospectively revised. The following variables were collected: weight, height, BMI, MUAC, sex and age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1373 patients were evaluated, who presented a mean weight of: 65.04±15.51 kg; height: 1.66±0.09 m; BMI: 23.48±5.03 kg/m2; MUAC: 26.95±4.50 cm; age: 56.24±16.77. MUAC correlates suitably to BMI by means of the following equation (simple linear regression): BMI = - 0.042 + 0.873 x MUAC (cm) (R2 = 0.609), with a Pearson r value of 0.78 (p<0.001). The area under the curve of MUAC for the diagnosis of malnutrition was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90-0.94; p<0.001). The MUAC value ≤22.5 cm presented a sensitivity of 67.7%, specificity of 94.5%, and a correct classification of 90%. No significant statistical differences were found in the cut-off point of MUAC for the diagnosis of malnutrition based on sex (p = 0.115) and age (p = 0.694).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1) MUAC correlates positively and significantly with BMI. 2) MUAC ≤ 22.5 cm correlates properly with a BMI of <18.5 kg/m2, independent of the age or sex of the patient, although there are other alternatives. MUAC constitutes a useful tool as a marker of malnutrition, fundamentally in patients for whom weight and height cannot be determined.
authors: Endocrinology and Nutrition Department of Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Ctra. Del Rosario n°145, 38010, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Néstor
authors: N
authors: Benítez Brito
authors: Endocrinology and Nutrition Department of Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Ctra. Del Rosario n°145, 38010, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: José Pablo
authors: JP
authors: Suárez Llanos
authors: Preventitive Medicine Department of Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Calle Profesor Martín Lagos, S/N, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Fuentes Ferrer
authors: Endocrinology and Nutrition Department of Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Ctra. Del Rosario n°145, 38010, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Jose Gregorio
authors: JG
authors: Oliva García
authors: Endocrinology and Nutrition Department of Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Ctra. Del Rosario n°145, 38010, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Irina
authors: I
authors: Delgado Brito
authors: Endocrinology and Nutrition Department of Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Ctra. Del Rosario n°145, 38010, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Francisca
authors: F
authors: Pereyra-García Castro
authors: Endocrinology and Nutrition Department of Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Ctra. Del Rosario n°145, 38010, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Nieves
authors: N
authors: Caracena Castellanos
authors: Endocrinology and Nutrition Department of Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Ctra. Del Rosario n°145, 38010, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Candelaria Xiomara
authors: CX
authors: Acevedo Rodríguez
authors: Endocrinology and Nutrition Department of Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Ctra. Del Rosario n°145, 38010, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Enrique
authors: E
authors: Palacio Abizanda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012189:Retrospective Studies