Abstract

Background: Few reports are available on whether thigh circumference measurements in the sitting position (knee joint flexed) are associated with those in the supine position (knee joint extended) in hospitalized older adults. Thus, this study compares the values of two thigh circumference measurements with changes in postures in hospitalized older adults using Bland-Altman analysis.
Methods: Sixty-seven hospitalized older patients were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Thigh circumferences were measured from two proximal points (10 cm and 15 cm from the patella on the edge) in the supine position with the knee joint extended and in the sitting position with the knee joint flexed. The two methods were compared using the Bland-Altman analysis.
Results: Strong correlation coefficients were found among the circumference values of both sides (left and right) of the thigh (10-cm and 15-cm parts) in the sitting and supine positions using Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient (all, r = 0.96; p < 0.05). All relationships (supine and sitting positions on the left and right sides [10-cm and 15-cm parts]) had systematic biases, which were observed using the Bland-Altman analysis. The thigh circumference values in the sitting position tended to be underestimated compared with those in the supine position.
Conclusion: We should recognize the possibility that measurement errors occur when measuring the circumferences of 10-cm and 15-cm parts of the thigh in the sitting position compared with those of 10- cm and 15-cm parts of the thigh in the supine position.