2019 Volume 1 Issue 3 Pages 128-133
Objective: This retrospective study was carried out to investigate the relationship between the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and controlling nutrition status (CONUT) score. The effects of age, sex, and presence of inflammation was evaluated.
Participants and Methods: Participants were 386 patients (223 men, 163 women ; mean age 77.6 years)who had a consultation with the nutrition support team (NST) at Iida Municipal Hospital. MUAC and biochemical parameters were measured at the start of NST intervention. Participants were divided into 4 groups according to severity of CONUT score:normal group (score 0-1), mild malnutrition group (score 2-4), moderate malnutrition group (score 5-8), and severe malnutrition group (score 9-12).
Results: MUAC was negatively and significantly correlated with CONUT score. Partial correlation analysis showed that the correlation between MUAC and CONUT score was still significant after controlling for age, sex, and C-reactive protein level (r =-0.181, p < 0.001). After adjustments for these confounding factors using analysis of covariance, MUAC was significantly smaller in the group with lower CONUT scores (p for trend = 0.022).
Conclusion: MUAC is associated with CONUT score independent of age, sex, and inflammation status. A lower CONUT score is associated with smaller MUAC. Our findings indicate that the anthropometric measurement MUAC is useful for nutrition assessment.
