Triceps skinfold compressibility in hospitalized patients

OBJECTIVE To explore triceps skinfold (TSF) compressibility and its associated factors among hospitalized patients. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among hospitalized adult patients. Evolution of tissue compressibility during two seconds was registered and 120 TSF values were obtained using a digital calliper. Compressibility was determined according to the difference between the initial value and the final value (TSF difference) and according to time (τ). Multivariable linear regression models were performed in order to identify factors associated with TSF compressibility. RESULTS One hundred and six patients (30.2% aged ≥ 65 years) composed the study sample. Compressibility based on TSF difference was independently associated with TSF thickness (regression coefficient, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.38, 0.01-0.05, p = 0.002) and nutritional risk (regression coefficient, 95% CI = 0.23, 0.12-1.23, p = 0.018), but time of compressibility (τ) was not significantly associated with any of the studied variables. CONCLUSIONS Among a sample of hospitalized patients, undernutrition risk and higher TSF thickness were factors independently associated with higher compressibility assessed by the difference between the initial and final TSF value. Time of compressibility (τ) was not affected by any of the studied factors.