Effectiveness of comparing calf circumference with neck circumference regarding their association with skeletal muscle indices in Japanese nursing home residents.
Akira Kubo, Masahiro Ishizaka, Sho Tsukahara and 2 others
PMID 38694005WHAT IT FOUND
In Japanese nursing home residents, calf circumference tracked muscle mass and daily-living scores, while neck circumference did not, except for body fat and BMI.
Calf measurement may be a simple bedside marker, not neck size.
Key findings
01Calf circumference was significantly related to body composition measures except percent body fat, and to Barthel score, while neck circumference was not related to phase angle or Barthel score.
02After adjusting for age and sex, calf circumference remained significantly related to body composition measures, while neck circumference was significantly related only to percent body fat and BMI.
03Calf circumference was more strongly related to body composition measures than neck circumference, except for percent body fat.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study was done at one nursing home and included 72 residents, so results may not apply to other facilities or residents. Participants had a median required care degree of 4, so findings may not apply to more independent residents. Edema can affect calf circumference, and the authors note it could not always be excluded, so calf size should be interpreted carefully in residents with swelling. The study was cross-sectional, so it reported associations rather than effects or prediction.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat calf circumference as a proven diagnostic tool for sarcopenia or mortality. The study only measured associations with body composition in one nursing home, and neck circumference was still related to body fat and BMI.