Association between adductor pollicis muscle thickness and nutritional parameters in hospitalized elderly patients

Introduction: the measurement of the adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT) has been investigated as an anthropometric parameter; however, there are few studies related to hospitalized elderly patients. Objective: to analyze the association between APMT and nutritional parameters in hospitalized elderly patients. Method: cross-sectional study made in 331 hospitalized elderly patients. The following variables have been assessed: APMT, Mini Nutritional Assessment (R) (MNA (R)), body mass index (BMI), arm circumference (AC), calf circumference (CC) and handgrip strength (HGS). Results: the mean age was 78.4 +/- 9.7 years and 56.8% were women. The women had showed APMT mean values significantly lower than the men (12.67 +/- 4.13 mm vs 15.26 +/- 4.01 mm), as well as the elderly patients >= 80 years old showed APMT values lower than the younger patients (12.62 +/- 4.38 mm vs 14.83 +/- 3.90 mm). In relation to the APMT classification, the women were more frequently below P5 than the men (89.9% vs 37.1%). In the univariate analysis, the mean values of APMT were significantly lower in the malnourished elderly patients (MNA (R)), thinness (BMI), AC < 21 cm, CC < 31 and HGS < P5, regardless of gender. In the multivariate analysis, APMT remained as a factor independently associated with all nutritional indicators, even when adjusted to age and gender. Conclusion: APMT has associated with all the nutritional parameters investigated, regardless of gender and age, reinforcing its applicability in the nutritional assessment of elderly people.