Mid-arm and calf circumferences (MAC and CC) are better than body mass index (BMI) in predicting health status and mortality risk in institutionalized elderly Taiwanese.

The study was to compare the ability of BMI, MAC and CC in predicting nutritional status, functional ability and follow-up mortality risk of older adults. The study purposively recruited 160 of 320 residents of a nursing home in Central Taiwan to serve as subjects. Residents who were ≥65 years old, cognitively normal, without acute conditions and non-hospitalized were qualified to participate. All subjects signed an informed consent. Each was interviewed with a structured questionnaire for sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related information; evaluated with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scales; measured for weight, height, MAC and CC; and assayed for nutrition-related biochemical values. Results showed that CC was the best, followed by MAC and then BMI in predicting the nutritional status and health conditions. CC and MAC were also more effective than BMI in predicting 12-month follow-up mortality. Overall, CC is the most capable in predicting nutritional status, functional activity and general health conditions; MAC is the most capable in predicting 12-month follow-up mortality risk whereas BMI is the weakest in all functions. These results should have practical implication in geriatric health measurements.