Age independent anthropometric index for identifying undernourished children in the age group 5-10 years

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Nutritional Science
• Anthropometry

Background:

• Childhood malnutrition remains a significant global health issue, particularly in developing regions.
• Accurate and accessible screening tools are crucial for early identification and intervention.
• Existing anthropometric indices often require age determination, limiting their universal applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an age-independent anthropometric index for identifying undernourished children aged 5-10 years.
• To establish a reliable classification rule based on the new index.
• To assess the diagnostic accuracy of the proposed index and classification rule.

Main Methods:

• Linear regression analysis was applied to anthropometric data (weight and height) from 238 children.
• A novel index, calculated as weight divided by height squared (wt/(ht)2), was derived.
• A classification rule was developed using the World Health Organization (WHO) classification based on NCHS standards as the gold standard.

Main Results:

• The derived age-independent index is wt/(ht)2.
• The classification rule achieved a sensitivity of 95%, indicating effective identification of undernourished children.
• The classification rule demonstrated a specificity of 92% and an overall efficiency of 92%.

Conclusions:

• The wt/(ht)2 index provides a simple, age-independent method for identifying undernourished children aged 5-10 years.
• The developed classification rule exhibits high diagnostic accuracy, comparable to established standards.
• This index offers a practical tool for screening childhood malnutrition in diverse settings.