Relationship between Special Nursing Home Residents’ Level of Independence in Activities of Daily Living and Skeletal Muscle Mass Index

Abstract

[Purpose] To clarify t he relationship between the level of independence in activities of daily living (ADL) and Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (SMI), as well as the prevalence of low skeletal muscle mass, in care-dependent elderly residents of nursing homes. [Participants and Methods] In 39 care-dependent elderly women living in special nursing homes, the Barthel Index (BI) representing ADL and skeletal muscle mass based on bioelectrical impedance analysis to calculate the SMI were measured, and the correlation between the 2 indices was analyzed. The SMI was used to screen for low skeletal muscle mass, conforming to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 Consensus. [Results] The correlation coefficient between the BI and SMI was 0.61. The prevalence of low skeletal muscle mass was 84.6%. [Conclusion] The results suggest a correlation between the level of independence in ADL and skeletal muscle mass, revealing the presence of low skeletal muscle mass in most of the special nursing home residents.