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Anthropometric measures change and quality of life in elderly people: a longitudinal population-based study in Southern Brazil

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Abstract

Purpose

To analyze the effects of anthropometric measures change on quality of life (QoL) in elderly, using measured anthropometric data on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC).

Method

Population-based cohort study investigating a sample of elderly (≥60) assessed in 2009 (n = 1705) and followed up in 2013 (n = 1197). QoL was evaluated in 2013 using the CASP-19. Variables evaluated as exposure including BMI and WC in 2009 (both standardized), categories of anthropometric measures change from 2009 to 2013 (excess weight = BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2; large WC = top quartile), and the absolute BMI and WC change in same period. Multivariate linear regressions adjusted for possible confounding factors and mediators were used.

Results

Both BMI and WC at baseline were associated with lower QoL scores, even after adjustment for confounding variables (β BMI = −0.9; 95 % CI −1.5; −0.3 and β WC = −1.0; 95 % CI −1.7; −0.4). Additionally, QoL scores were lower among elderly with excess weight (β = −1.4; 95 % CI −2.9; 0.0) or large WC (β = −3.3; 95 % CI −5.2; −1.4) in both waves than among those whose BMI and WC were always normal, but changes in anthropometric measures did not affect QoL. The presence of chronic diseases was a partial mediator of these associations, especially for effects of BMI change. Anthropometric measures change treated as a continuous variable was not associated with QoL.

Conclusions

Having excess weight and large WC in both waves was associated with lower QoL scores in elderly, but changing the anthropometric measures did not affect this outcome. Maintaining weight and WC within normal limits during aging can help to preserve QoL.

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Author contributions

Ana Aparecida Tessari; Maruí Weber Corseuil Giehl; Ione Jayce Ceola Schneider; David Alejandro González-Chica: (1) Conceived and/or designed the work that led to the submission, acquired data, and/or played an important role in interpreting the results. (2) Drafted or revised the manuscript. (3) Approved the final version.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Post-graduation Program in Public Health, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Ana Aparecida Tessari, Ione Jayce Ceola Schneider & David Alejandro González-Chica

  2. Post-graduation Program in Nutrition, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 173, Dina Calixto Street, House 2, 88037320, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Maruí Weber Corseuil Giehl

  3. Discipline of General Practice, School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

    David Alejandro González-Chica

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  1. Ana Aparecida Tessari
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Correspondence to Maruí Weber Corseuil Giehl.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at the Federal University of Santa Catarina under Protocols No. 352/2008 and 526.126. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Tessari, A.A., Giehl, M.W.C., Schneider, I.J.C. et al. Anthropometric measures change and quality of life in elderly people: a longitudinal population-based study in Southern Brazil. Qual Life Res 25, 3057–3066 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-016-1330-6

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