Anthropometric Changes Over Five Years in Older Adults and its Association with Demographic Characteristics, Muscle Strength and Comorbid Disorders: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study

Anthropometric measures are of great importance in evaluating older adult health. This study was carried out to examine five-year changes in anthropometric indices of older adults and its association with demographic characteristics, muscle strength, and comorbid disorders.

This cohort study was conducted during 2011-2016 in people aged 60 years and over participating in the Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP). The elderly whose anthropometric characteristics were complete in the data bank of AHAP were included in the research by census. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and anthropometric measures, including height, weight, body mass index, neck, waist and hip circumferences, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were assessed, and five-year changes were calculated.

Among 897 people, significant reductions were seen in height, neck, waist, and hip circumferences, WHtR (P<0.001), and WHR (P=0.031). Change in weight loss was not statistically significant (P=0.152) and body mass index increased (P<0.001). Reductions in height, neck, waist and hip circumferences, and decrease in WHtR were found to be significantly different between women and men (P<0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between the number of comorbidities and five-year changes of height (r=0.104, P=0.002) and hip circumference (r=0.095, P=0.005), and a negative correlation between strength of the arm (r=-0.341, P<0.001) and quadriceps (r=-0.324, P<0.001) muscles and comorbidities.

This study represented a pattern of significant reduction in height, neck, waist, and hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio, and increase in body mass index in older adults, over five years. Furthermore, significant correlations between comorbid disorders and changes in height and hip circumference, and muscle strength were shown.