title: Calf circumference predicts mobility disability: A secondary analysis of the Mexican health and ageing study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Calf circumference is a surrogate measurement of muscle mass. However, there is scarce evidence on its validity in predicting adverse outcomes such as mobility disability. The aim of this report is to determine if calf circumference could predict incident mobility disability in Mexican 60-year or older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a secondary analysis of the Mexican Health and Aging Study and in particular of its two first waves. Sixty-year or older adults without mobility disability in the first assessment were included and followed-up for two years. Calf circumference quartile groups were compared to test the difference of incident mobility disability. Logistic regression models were fitted to test the independent association when including confounding variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 745 older adults were assessed, from which 24.4% of the older adults developed mobility disability at follow-up. A calf circumference > 38 cm was associated with a higher risk of developing mobility disability, even after adjustment in the multivariate model, with an odds ratio 0.55 (95% confidence interval 0.31-0.99,P= 0.049).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High calf circumference in Mexican older adults is independently associated with incident mobility disability. This could reflect the impact of adverse health conditions such as obesity (with high fat tissue) or edema. Further research should aim at testing these results in different populations.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Epidemiology Department at National Institute of Geriatrics, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: M U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Pérez-Zepeda
authors.affiliation: Head Office of the National Institute of Geriatrics, Periférico Sur 2767, colonia San Jerónimo Lídice, delegación Magdalena Contreras, 10200 México Distrito Federal, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Robledo
keywords: Calf circumference; Mobility disability; Muscle mass; Sarcopenia