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Comparison of four anthropometric methods of nutritional assessment and evaluation of the agreement between two
C A de Almeida1, R G Ricco, M P Nogueira
1Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto, Departamento de Puericultura e Pediatria, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil. CALNO@CONVEX.com.BR
Insights
This study compared four nutritional assessment methods for 841 children in Brazil. The Brazilian and NCHS reference populations showed agreement, but methods had limited concordance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Accurate nutritional status assessment in children is crucial for early intervention.
- Brazil utilizes both Brazilian and National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference populations.
- Multiple anthropometric methods exist, necessitating comparison for optimal clinical use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the Gomez, Waterlow, Shakir, and Kanawati and McLaren methods for evaluating child nutritional status.
- To determine the correlation between Brazilian and NCHS reference populations in Brazilian children.
- To assess the agreement between different anthropometric assessment methods.
Main Methods:
- Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, arm, head circumference) were collected from 841 children (10 days to 5 years).
- Nutritional status was evaluated using Gomez, Waterlow, Shakir, and Kanawati and McLaren methods.
- Brazilian and NCHS reference populations were compared using the Gomez method.
Main Results:
- The Brazilian and NCHS reference populations demonstrated concordance.
- The Gomez and Shakir methods showed very mild agreement in nutritional status evaluation.
- Waterlow 'wasting' criteria had mild agreement with Kanawati & McLaren and Gomez methods.
Conclusions:
- The Brazilian and NCHS reference populations are comparable for use in Brazil.
- Existing anthropometric assessment methods show limited agreement, suggesting potential discrepancies in nutritional status classification.
- Further research is needed to refine and standardize methods for child nutritional assessment in primary care settings.
Abstract:
A total of 841 children, aged 10 days to 5 years, seen at a primary health care centre in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, were studied in order to compare the methods of Gomez, Waterlow, Shakir, and Kanawati and McLaren and to determine the correlation between the Brazilian and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference populations, which are frequently used in Brazil. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, arm circumference, and head circumference) were made and personal data were obtained in order to evaluate nutritional status according to the above methods. The two reference populations were compared by the method of Gomez. The NCHS and the Brazilian reference populations were concordant. Comparison of the methods of Gomez and Shakir showed a very mild agreement in the evaluation of nutritional status. Comparison of Waterlow 'wasting' with Kanawati & McLaren and with Gomez showed a mild agreement.