Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as a feasible tool in detecting adult malnutrition
Objectives: This study aimed to expand on the limited South African malnutrition prevalence data and investigate the feasibility of mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) as a malnutrition screening tool. Design: A cross-sectional, multi-centre, descriptive design was adopted. Setting: The study was und...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2019-10-01
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| Series: | The South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2018.1484622 |
| _version_ | 1797678759376060416 |
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| author | E Van Tonder L Mace L Steenkamp R Tydeman-Edwards K Gerber D Friskin |
| author_facet | E Van Tonder L Mace L Steenkamp R Tydeman-Edwards K Gerber D Friskin |
| author_sort | E Van Tonder |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: This study aimed to expand on the limited South African malnutrition prevalence data and investigate the feasibility of mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) as a malnutrition screening tool. Design: A cross-sectional, multi-centre, descriptive design was adopted. Setting: The study was undertaken in three tertiary public hospitals in the same urban area within the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Subjects: Adult hospitalised patients volunteered to participate (n = 266). Methods: Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires; obtaining anthropometric measurements; and consulting medical files. For maximum accuracy of various MUAC cut-off points, receiver operating characteristic curves were generated and area under the curve determined. Results: Both body mass index (BMI) and MUAC identified 21% of participants as underweight or malnourished, and 39% as overweight or obese. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) found 23% at increased malnutrition risk. Nurses or doctors detected and referred only 19% of underweight patients (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), to dietetics services. Direct measurements of BMI and MUST were unobtainable in 38% and 43% of patients respectively, whilst MUAC was obtainable in 100%. A statistically significant relationship (p < 0.001) exists between MUAC, BMI and MUST to detect malnutrition or malnutrition risk. MUAC cut-offs for undernutrition were determined at < 23 cm (BMI < 16 kg/m2) and < 24 cm (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), respectively, for the study’s population groups. Conclusion: Malnutrition prevalence was high in this study, but often unidentified, with only a fifth referred to dietetic services. MUAC is a feasible method to identify adult malnutrition and should be considered as a malnutrition screening tool and key nutritional status indicator in South African public hospitals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:04:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7daffa73a92349d288e12145272f964c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1607-0658 2221-1268 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:04:29Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-7daffa73a92349d288e12145272f964c2023-09-21T13:38:26ZengTaylor & Francis GroupThe South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition1607-06582221-12682019-10-01324939810.1080/16070658.2018.14846221484622Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as a feasible tool in detecting adult malnutritionE Van Tonder0L Mace1L Steenkamp2R Tydeman-Edwards3K Gerber4D Friskin5Nelson Mandela UniversityTayler Bequest HospitalSettlers HospitalDietetics Department, Department of Health, Port Elizabeth Provincial HospitalNelson Mandela UniversityNelson Mandela UniversityObjectives: This study aimed to expand on the limited South African malnutrition prevalence data and investigate the feasibility of mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) as a malnutrition screening tool. Design: A cross-sectional, multi-centre, descriptive design was adopted. Setting: The study was undertaken in three tertiary public hospitals in the same urban area within the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Subjects: Adult hospitalised patients volunteered to participate (n = 266). Methods: Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires; obtaining anthropometric measurements; and consulting medical files. For maximum accuracy of various MUAC cut-off points, receiver operating characteristic curves were generated and area under the curve determined. Results: Both body mass index (BMI) and MUAC identified 21% of participants as underweight or malnourished, and 39% as overweight or obese. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) found 23% at increased malnutrition risk. Nurses or doctors detected and referred only 19% of underweight patients (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), to dietetics services. Direct measurements of BMI and MUST were unobtainable in 38% and 43% of patients respectively, whilst MUAC was obtainable in 100%. A statistically significant relationship (p < 0.001) exists between MUAC, BMI and MUST to detect malnutrition or malnutrition risk. MUAC cut-offs for undernutrition were determined at < 23 cm (BMI < 16 kg/m2) and < 24 cm (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), respectively, for the study’s population groups. Conclusion: Malnutrition prevalence was high in this study, but often unidentified, with only a fifth referred to dietetic services. MUAC is a feasible method to identify adult malnutrition and should be considered as a malnutrition screening tool and key nutritional status indicator in South African public hospitals.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2018.1484622adultshospitalisedmalnutritionmid-upper arm circumferencemuacreferral ratesscreening |
| spellingShingle | E Van Tonder L Mace L Steenkamp R Tydeman-Edwards K Gerber D Friskin Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as a feasible tool in detecting adult malnutrition The South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition adults hospitalised malnutrition mid-upper arm circumference muac referral rates screening |
| title | Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as a feasible tool in detecting adult malnutrition |
| title_full | Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as a feasible tool in detecting adult malnutrition |
| title_fullStr | Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as a feasible tool in detecting adult malnutrition |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as a feasible tool in detecting adult malnutrition |
| title_short | Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as a feasible tool in detecting adult malnutrition |
| title_sort | mid upper arm circumference muac as a feasible tool in detecting adult malnutrition |
| topic | adults hospitalised malnutrition mid-upper arm circumference muac referral rates screening |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2018.1484622 |
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