Stature estimation using the knee height measurement amongst Brazilian elderly / Estimación de la estatura utilizando la medición de la altura de la rodilla entre ancianos brasileños

Introduction: Stature is an important variable in several indices of nutritional status that are applicable to elderly persons. However, stature is difficult or impossible to measure in elderly because they are often unable to maintain the standing position. A alternative is the use of estimated height from measurements of knee height measure. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the formula proposed by Chumlea et al. (1985) based on the knee of a Caucasian population to estimate the height and its application in calculation of body mass index in community- dwelling older people residents in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: The sample included 621 elderly aged 60 years old and older, living in the community. Measures of weight, height and knee height (KH) were taken and Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated with the measured weight and estimated. The Student`s t-test was used for comparison of measurements of height between the genders. For the comparison of estimated and measured values it was used paired t-test and also the methodology proposed by Bland and Altman to compare the difference between measurements. To evaluate the agreement between the classifications for BMI was used Cohen’s Kappa. Results: The average values obtained from KH were higher than those measured in the whole sample and women. There underestimation of BMI in females and also in the whole. Conclusions: The present results suggest that the equation Chumlea was not adequate to estimate the height of the sample in question, especially for women (AU)

Introducción: La estatura es una variable importante en varios índices del estado nutricional que son aplicables a las personas mayores. Sin embargo, la estatura es difícil o imposible de medir en la edad avanzada, ya que a menudo son incapaces de mantener la posición de pie. Una alternativa es el uso de altura estimada a partir de mediciones de medida de altura de la rodilla. Objetivos: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la exactitud de la fórmula propuesta por Chumlea et al. (1985), basado en la altura de la rodilla de una población caucásica para estimar la altura y su aplicación en el cálculo del índice de masa corporal en las personas mayores residentes en la comunidad de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Métodos: La muestra incluyó a 621 adultos mayores de 60 anõs y más, que viven en la comunidad. Se tomaron medidas de peso, talla y altura de la rodilla (AR) y el Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) se calculó con el peso medido y estimado. Se utilize la prueba T del estudiante para la comparación de las mediciones de altura entre los géneros. Para la comparación de los valores estimados y medidos se utilizó la prueba T pareada y también la metodología propuesta por Bland y Altman para comparar la diferencia entre las mediciones. Para evaluar el acuerdo entre las clasificaciones para el IMC se utilizó el Kappa de Cohen. Resultados: Los valores medios obtenidos a partir de AR fueron más altos que los medidos en la muestra completa y mujeres. Hay subestimación de IMC en mujeres y también en el conjunto. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que la ecuación Chumlea no era adecuado para estimar la altura de la muestra en cuestión, especialmente para las mujeres (AU)

Stature estimation using the knee height measurement amongst Brazilian elderly.

INTRODUCTION: Stature is an important variable in several indices of nutritional status that are applicable to elderly persons. However, stature is difficult or impossible to measure in elderly because they are often unable to maintain the standing position. A alternative is the use of estimated height from measurements of knee height measure. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the formula proposed by Chumlea et al. (1985) based on the knee of a Caucasian population to estimate the height and its application in calculation of body mass index in community- dwelling older people residents in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: The sample included 621 elderly aged 60 years old and older, living in the community. Measures of weight, height and knee height (KH) were taken and Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated with the measured weight and estimated. The Student`s t-test was used for comparison of measurements of height between the genders. For the comparison of estimated and measured values it was used paired t-test and also the methodology proposed by Bland and Altman to compare the difference between measurements. To evaluate the agreement between the classifications for BMI was used Cohen's Kappa. RESULTS: The average values obtained from KH were higher than those measured in the whole sample and women. There underestimation of BMI in females and also in the whole. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that the equation Chumlea was not adequate to estimate the height of the sample in question, especially for women.

Introducción: La estatura es una variable importante en varios índices del estado nutricional que son aplicables a las personas mayores. Sin embargo, la estatura es difícil o imposible de medir en la edad avanzada, ya que a menudo son incapaces de mantener la posición de pie. Una alternativa es el uso de altura estimada a partir de mediciones de medida de altura de la rodilla. Objetivos: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la exactitud de la fórmula propuesta por Chumlea et al. (1985), basado en la altura de la rodilla de una población caucásica para estimar la altura y su aplicación en el cálculo del índice de masa corporal en las personas mayores residentes en la comunidad de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Métodos: La muestra incluyó a 621 adultos mayores de 60 anõs y más, que viven en la comunidad. Se tomaron medidas de peso, talla y altura de la rodilla (AR) y el Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) se calculó con el peso medido y estimado. Se utilize la prueba T del estudiante para la comparación de las mediciones de altura entre los géneros. Para la comparación de los valores estimados y medidos se utilizó la prueba T pareada y también la metodología propuesta por Bland y Altman para comparar la diferencia entre las mediciones. Para evaluar el acuerdo entre las clasificaciones para el IMC se utilizó el Kappa de Cohen. Resultados: Los valores medios obtenidos a partir de AR fueron más altos que los medidos en la muestra completa y mujeres. Hay subestimación de IMC en mujeres y también en el conjunto. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que la ecuación Chumlea no era adecuado para estimar la altura de la muestra en cuestión, especialmente para las mujeres.

Percepção de mães e profissionais de saúde sobre o aleitamento materno: encontros e desencontros / The perception of mothers and health professionals about breastfeeding: agreements and disagreements

Objetivo: Identificar as vantagens do aleitamento materno e as causas de desmame precoce segundo a percepção de mães e profissionais do Programa de Saúde da Família (PSF) do município de Teixeiras, em Minas Gerais. Métodos: Estudo transversal com abordagem quantitativa, cujos dados foram obtidos por meio de dois questionários semi-estruturados direcionados aos 36 profissionais de saúde do PSF e às 137 mães de bebês com até 24 meses de idade, cadastradas no programa. A análise dos dados foi realizada pelo programa Epi-Info 6.04. Resultados: Dentre os entrevistados, 38,3% das mães e 48,5% dos profissionais de Saúde consideraram como principais causas finais para a interrupção da amamentação questões relacionadas à quantidade de leite e à estética, representadas pelas construções sociais: ôleite fracoõ, ôleite secouõ e ôleite insuficienteõ e ôas mamas caem com a amamentaçãoõ. Entretanto, houve divergência de relatos, com predominância de questões estéticas entre os profissionais de saúde e de questões relacionadas à produção de leite entre as mães. Quanto às vantagens da amamentação, a questão da imunização da criança foi a mais citada pelos dois grupos. Conclusões: A percepção de mães e profissionais sobre a amamentação mostrou-se polarizada em dois aspectos importantes. Por um lado, houve concordância quanto aos benefícios do aleitamento materno, com vantagens relacionadas à saúde e ao bem-estar da criança. Por outro, observou-se um distanciamento entre o olhar do profissional de saúde e o relato das mães em relação às causas do desmame precoce. Essa divergência precisa ser trabalhada a fim de promover a amamentação de forma mais efetiva.

Objective: To identify the advantages of breastfeeding and the causes of early weaning according to the perception of mothers and Family Health Program professionals from the district of Teixeiras, Minas Gerais, Brazil.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 36 health professionals and 137 mothers of infants up to 24 months of age, registered in this program. A semi-structured questionnairewas applied to both groups of adults. Data was analyzed by Epi-Info 6.04 software. Results: Among the studied population, 38.3% of mothers and 48.5% of health professionals considered as main cause for breastfeeding interruption questions related to the amount of produced milk and to body aesthetic. Both groups reported constructions like ôweak milkõ, ôno milk,õ ônot enough milkõ and ôthe breasts fall with breastfeedingõ. However, divergences between these two groups of causes were noted: health professionals reported more aesthetic questions and mothers reported more milk production issues. Regarding advantages of breast feeding, the immunization of the child was the most cited by both groups.Conclusions: Mothers and professionals perception about breastfeeding showed two different aspects. There was agreement about the perceptions of the benefits of breastfeeding, with emergence of child health concerns. Nevertheless, there was divergence in the perceptions of causes related to early breastfeeding weaning. This heterogeneity of perceptions needs to be solved in order to effectively promote breastfeeding.