PURPOSE: Dry axilla can sometimes be found among dehydrated older patients. In this study, we measured the axillary moisture and assessed it as possible marker for dehydration. METHODS: Twenty-nine older patients admitted with acute medical conditions participated in this study. Dehydration was diagnosed by the calculated serum osmolality of greater than 295 mOsm/L. The moisture of axilla was measured by a skin moisture impedance meter which was applied at the center of axilla of patients. RESULTS: 11 patients (7 males and 4 females) were diagnosed as dehydrated and 18 patients (10 males and 8 females) were diagnosed as non-dehydrated. The mean axillary moisture (33%) in the dehydrated group was significantly lower than that (42%) in the non-dehydrated group (p<0.05). The axillary moisture ≥50% showed the sensitivity of 88%. The axillary moisture <30% showed the specificity of 91%. Use of a single cutoff value of 40% moisture produced the sensitivity of 59% and the specificity of 9%. As for the physical signs, dry axilla had also moderate sensitivity and excellent specificity to detect dehydration. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of the axillary moisture could help assess dehydration. Dehydration could be ruled out when the axillary moisture ≥50%, while it could be ruled-in when the axillary moisture is <30%.
PURPOSE:Dry axilla can sometimes be found among dehydrated older patients. In this study, we measured the axillary moisture and assessed it as possible marker for dehydration. METHODS: Twenty-nine older patients admitted with acute medical conditions participated in this study. Dehydration was diagnosed by the calculated serum osmolality of greater than 295 mOsm/L. The moisture of axilla was measured by a skin moisture impedance meter which was applied at the center of axilla of patients. RESULTS: 11 patients (7 males and 4 females) were diagnosed as dehydrated and 18 patients (10 males and 8 females) were diagnosed as non-dehydrated. The mean axillary moisture (33%) in the dehydrated group was significantly lower than that (42%) in the non-dehydrated group (p<0.05). The axillary moisture ≥50% showed the sensitivity of 88%. The axillary moisture <30% showed the specificity of 91%. Use of a single cutoff value of 40% moisture produced the sensitivity of 59% and the specificity of 9%. As for the physical signs, dry axilla had also moderate sensitivity and excellent specificity to detect dehydration. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of the axillary moisture could help assess dehydration. Dehydration could be ruled out when the axillary moisture ≥50%, while it could be ruled-in when the axillary moisture is <30%.
Authors: Lee Hooper; Asmaa Abdelhamid; Natalie J Attreed; Wayne W Campbell; Adam M Channell; Philippe Chassagne; Kennith R Culp; Stephen J Fletcher; Matthew B Fortes; Nigel Fuller; Phyllis M Gaspar; Daniel J Gilbert; Adam C Heathcote; Mohannad W Kafri; Fumiko Kajii; Gregor Lindner; Gary W Mack; Janet C Mentes; Paolo Merlani; Rowan A Needham; Marcel G M Olde Rikkert; Andreas Perren; James Powers; Sheila C Ranson; Patrick Ritz; Anne M Rowat; Fredrik Sjöstrand; Alexandra C Smith; Jodi J D Stookey; Nancy A Stotts; David R Thomas; Angela Vivanti; Bonnie J Wakefield; Nana Waldréus; Neil P Walsh; Sean Ward; John F Potter; Paul Hunter Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2015-04-30
Authors: Susana Rodrigues; Joana Silva; Milton Severo; Cátia Inácio; Patrícia Padrão; Carla Lopes; Joana Carvalho; Isabel do Carmo; Pedro Moreira Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2015-03-02 Impact factor: 3.390