Concordância entre as pregas cutâneas e a bioimpedância elétrica na avaliação da composição corporal em crianças e adolescentes

Abstract

Background: The measurement of skinfolds is a non-invasive method, feasible and low cost compared to other techniques. However, in the Brazilian population there are a limited number of studies that evaluate the accuracy of skinfolds to evaluate body composition by comparison with other more precise techniques such as bioimpedance. Objective: To evaluate the agreement between skinfolds and electrical bioimpedance in the evaluation of body fat percentage. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included, for convenience, healthy participants aged five to 20 years. The skinfolds were evaluated in a standardized way and the Slaugher, Huang and Goran equations were used to estimate the percentage of body fat bioimpedance was performed according to standards standardized on the same day of the evaluation of the skin folds. Correlation between measurements was assessed by Pearson's correlation and agreement by the Bland-Altman method. The value of p <0.05 was considered significant. Results: 439 children and adolescents with a mean age of 11.6±3.7 years were evaluated. The mean body fat by the BIA was 22.8±10.4%, as compared to Slaughter (1) 22.4±8.8%, Slaughter (2) 20.4±9.2%, Goran 19.6±4.4% and Huang 24.7±10.0% equations. Bland-Altman plot analysis revealed limits of agreement greater than 8% between the bioimpedance and equations, exceeding the clinically acceptable limit predefined a priori. None of the equations had good agreement with the BIA. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that skinfolds thickness and bioimpedance analysis should not be used interchangeably in children and adolescents.