ADDUCTOR POLLICIS MUSCLE THICKNESS AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL FOR MALNUTRITION IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS

Abstract

Malnutrition causes changes in body composition and compromises the physical and mental functions of individuals. One of its main characteristics is involuntary weight loss, associated with worse health outcomes. In hospital environments, the risk for the condition is high, especially among critical patients, the elderly or those undergoing surgery. This study explores the potential of adductor pollicis muscle thickness (EMAP) as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for detecting malnutrition in hospitalized patients, given its accessibility and low cost. The research involved 100 adult individuals and evaluated the correlations between EMAP, arm circumference (CB) and calf circumference (CP) with the participants body mass index (BMI). Furthermore, it suggested cut-off points for these anthropometric measurements for detecting malnutrition. The results indicated that CB and CP correlated more strongly with BMI compared to EMAP, being more effective choices for nutritional diagnosis. Regarding cutoff points, the values with the highest sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing malnutrition were 12.50 mm for EMAP, 26.00 cm for CB and 30.50 cm for CP, respectively.