Anthropometric midarm measurements can detect systemic fat-free mass depletion in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Published in: Brazilian journal of medical and biological research 2011-05, Vol.44 (5), p.453-459
• Main Authors: Sanchez, F F, Faganello, M M, Tanni, S E, Lucheta, P A, Pelegrino, N G, Hasegawa, S H, Ribeiro, S M, Godoy, I
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Arm - diagnostic imaging; BIOLOGY; Body Composition; Case-Control Studies; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Fat-free mass depletion; Female; Humans; Male; Malnutrition; Malnutrition - diagnosis; Malnutrition - diagnostic imaging; Malnutrition - etiology; MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL; Midarm anthropometry; Middle Aged; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - anatomy & histology; Nutritional status assessment; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - complications; Sensitivity and Specificity; Severity of Illness Index; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0100-879X; 1414-431X; 1414-431X; 0100-879X
• DOI: 10.1590/S0100-879X2011007500024

Our objective was to determine whether anthropometric measurements of the midarm (MA) could identify subjects with whole body fat-free mass (FFM) depletion. Fifty-five patients (31% females; age: 64.6 ± 9.3 years) with mild/very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 18 smokers without COPD (39% females; age: 49.0 ± 7.3 years) and 23 never smoked controls (57% females; age: 48.2 ± 9.6 years) were evaluated. Spirometry, muscle strength and MA circumference were measured. MA muscle area was estimated by anthropometry and MA cross-sectional area by computerized tomography (CT) scan. Bioelectrical impedance was used as the reference method for FFM. MA circumference and MA muscle area correlated with FFM and biceps and triceps strength. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that MA circumference and MA muscle area cut-off points presented sensitivity and specificity >82% to discriminate FFM-depleted subjects. CT scan measurements did not provide improved sensitivity or specificity. For all groups, there was no significant statistical difference between MA muscle area [35.2 (29.3-45.0) cm²] and MA cross-sectional area values [36.4 (28.5-43.3) cm²] and the linear correlation coefficient between tests was r = 0.77 (P < 0.001). However, Bland-Altman plots revealed wide 95% limits of agreement (-14.7 to 15.0 cm²) between anthropometric and CT scan measurements. Anthropometric MA measurements may provide useful information for identifying subjects with whole body FFM depletion. This is a low-cost technique and can be used in a wider patient population to identify those likely to benefit from a complete body composition evaluation.