A comparison of the different anthropometric indices for assessing malnutrition among older people in Turkey: a large population-based screening

Due to an increase in aging worldwide, assessment of the nutritional status of older people becomes an
important matter. Malnutrition in older people increases the risk of infections, disease period and hospitalization
rates. This study aimed to compare the different anthropometric indices for detecting malnutrition among older
people and comparing these indices among males and females to explain the possible differences.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 2721 aged 65 years and older in Turkey were enrolled. Anthropometric
measurements weight, height, hip circumference (HC), and waist circumference (WC), abdominal circumference
(AC), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), triceps skinfold thickness (TST), calf circumference (CC)) were measured.
Body mass index (BMI), abdominal volume index (AVI), body roundness index (BRI) and body adiposity index (BAI),
and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) indices were calculated using standardized formulas.
The receiver operator characteristic curves (ROCs) were conducted in detecting the best anthropometric
parameters. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) (stratified by sex) calculated for each anthropometric index.
Results: Participants with both BMI < 18.5 (1.1%) and BMI > 25 (80%) defined as the malnourished group and BMI
of 18.5–24.99 (18.9%) defined as the normal group. In both sexes, the area under the curve (AUC) was > 0.7 for all
anthropometric indices except WHR in females (AUC 0.66). BRI, WHR, WHtR, and AVI indices strongly predict the risk
of malnutrition among both sexes. In males, the ORs were for BRI (6.83, 95% CI 5.39–8.66), WHR (6.43, 95% CI 5.9–
6.9), AVI (2.02, 95% CI 1.86–2.12). In females, the ORs were for BRI (3.72, 95% CI 3.09–4.48), WtHR (2.63, 95% CI 1.3–
3.5), and WHR (2.45, 95% CI 1.9–3.06).
Discussion: The presence of a large AUC in almost all anthropometric indices suggests that they can be used to
assess the risk of malnutrition among older persons in both sexes