Association Between Hip-Waist Ratio and Physical Performance in Older Adults

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the association between the hip-waist ratio (WHR) and physical performance (PP) in older adults. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analytical design was carried out using the database of the study “Validation of the measure of grip strength with digital dynamometry in older adults”. Results: The participants included 84 older adults, with a mean age of 78.06 ± 8.40 years with a predominance of female sex (60.71%; n=51). PP was evaluated with the Short Physical Performance Battery, with most of the participants (67.86%; n=57) presenting adequate PP, and 47.62% (n=40) had a body mass index within normal parameters. The mean WHR was 0.94 cm. ± 0.08. The WHR was altered in 78.95% (n=45) and was normal in 21.05% (n=12) of patients with adequate PP, while in participants with altered PP, 22.22% (n=6) had a normal WHR and 77.78% (n=21) had an altered WHR. Discussion: These results suggest that WHR and PP are not associated. However, we found a significant relationship between WHR and PP in older women and older adults between 60 and 70 years of age.