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Mid upper Arm Circumference for Detection of Severe Acute Malnutrition in Infants Aged Between One and Six Months

Siddharth Chand1, Dheeraj Shah

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Dilshad Garden, Delhi, India. shahdheeraj@hotmail.com.

Indian Pediatrics
|June 30, 2015
PubMed

Insights

This study identified the optimal mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) cutoff for diagnosing severe acute malnutrition in infants. An 11.0 cm MUAC best identifies infants aged 1-6 months with severe acute malnutrition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Nutritional Science
  • Global Health

Background:

  • Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in infants poses a significant global health challenge.
  • Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for timely intervention and improved outcomes.
  • Current diagnostic methods require further validation in specific infant age groups.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the most accurate mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) cutoff for diagnosing severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in infants aged 1-6 months.
  • To evaluate the diagnostic performance of different MUAC cutoffs using weight-for-length <-3 SD as the reference standard.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 302 infants aged 1-6 months.
  • Measurement of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and weight-for-length (WFL).
  • Statistical analysis to assess sensitivity, specificity, and Youden index for various MUAC cutoffs.

Main Results:

  • An 11.0 cm MUAC cutoff demonstrated the best diagnostic performance.
  • The 11.0 cm cutoff achieved a Youden index of 0.63, with 82.5% sensitivity and 80.3% specificity.
  • This cutoff effectively identifies infants with severe acute malnutrition.

Conclusions:

  • An 11.0 cm MUAC cutoff is recommended for diagnosing severe acute malnutrition in infants aged 1-6 months.
  • This finding can aid in early detection and management of SAM in vulnerable infant populations.
  • Further research may explore the utility of this cutoff in diverse settings.

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