Abstract
This study aimed to assess the concordance between some measures often used as nutritional status markers. We used data from elderly (n=1,256) evaluated in the third wave of SABE Study (Health, Well-being, and Aging) conducted in 2010 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. We evaluated nutritional status using the most common measures: Body Mass Index (BMI), hemoglobin and albumin concentrations, calf circumference, score in mini nutritional assessment (MNA) and self-perception of nutritional status (question: “do you consider yourself well-nourished?”). Differences between groups were estimated using x(2) test with Rao-Scott correction, considering populational weights for estimates. The prevalence of Hypoalbuminemia (<3.5g/dL) was 7.9% of low body weight elderly (BMI<22kg/m2), proportion similar to normal weight elderly (6.8%; p=0.652). Anemia was more prevalent in low weight elderly, but the difference was not significant (12.2 and 7.2, respectively; p=0.078). Both anemia (15.9% and 7.5%, p=0.019) and hypoalbuminemia (15.9% and 7.5%, p=0.019; 20.1% and 7.5%, p<0.001) were more prevalent in elderly with calf circumference <31cm in relation to those with values≥31cm. They were also more prevalent in those considered malnourished by MNA comparing with well-nourished (anemia: 14.4 and 5.9%, p=0.011; hypoalbuminemia: 21.6 and 6.0, p=0.002). Hypoalbuminemia was significantly higher in those who self-perceived malnourished (14.9% and 7.5%, p=0.019), but anemia and low calf circumference were not significantly. Thus, nutritional status is a complex part of geriatric evaluation and should count on several measures, including anthropometric, self-perception and blood indicators, to allow a complete understanding of nutritional status, once body weight alone may not reflect it correctly.