Development and validation of predictive workable weight equations for Brazilian older adult residents in long-term care institutions

• Published in: PloS one 2023-01, Vol.18 (1), p.e0280541-e0280541
• Main Authors: Lima, Marcos Felipe Silva de, de Araújo Cabral, Natália Louise, Praça de Oliveira, Larissa, Pereira Liberalino, Laura Camila, Vieira Cunha Lima, Severina Carla, Campos Pedrosa, Lucia de Fátima, de Lima, Kenio Costa, de Oliveira Lyra, Clélia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue; Adults; Aged; Anthropometry; Arm circumference; Biology and Life Sciences; Body measurements; Brazil; Correlation coefficient; Correlation coefficients; Data collection; Engineering and Technology; Estimation; Evaluation; Female; Health aspects; Humans; Institutions; Linear Models; Long term health care; Long-Term Care; Long-term care of the sick; Male; Malnutrition; Mathematical models; Medical care; Medicine and Health Sciences; Men; Nutritional status; Older people; Orthopedics; People and Places; Physiological aspects; Pressure ulcers; Quality management; Regression analysis; Sex; Standard error; Statistical analysis; Stratification; Weight measurement; Women
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280541

Weight measurement is important in the nutritional anthropometric monitoring of older adults. When this measurement is not possible, estimates may be used. Developing and validating weight predictive equations for older adult residents in long-term care institutions in Brazil. The sample comprised 393 older adult residents in long-term care institutions. Data were collected in two stages, with 315 older adults in the first and 78 in the second. We have measured the arm, calf, and waist circumferences, as well as the triceps and subscapular skinfold and knee height. Multiple linear regression was used to develop the equations, which were evaluated through the coefficient of determination, standard error of estimation, Akaike information criterion, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland-Altmann plot. Five models with different anthropometric measurements were developed, (1) arm circumference as a discriminant variable (ICC: 0.842); (2) best statistical fit for men and women (ICC: 0.874) and its stratification by sex (3) (ICC: 0.876); (4) easy-to-perform measurement for men and women (ICC: 0.842) and its stratification by sex (5) (ICC: 0.828). Five models for estimating the weight of older adult residents in long-term care institutions were developed and validated. The choice to use the models should be based on the physical capacity of the older adults to be evaluated.