Media arm circumference in schoo and preschool hospitalized as predictive value : acute malnutrition

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Anthropometry
• Public Health

Background:

• Acute malnutrition is a significant health concern in children.
• Early identification is crucial for timely intervention and improved outcomes.
• Anthropometric measurements are key tools for nutritional status assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the predictive power of mid-arm circumference (MAC) for early identification of acute malnutrition in preschool and school children.
• To compare the diagnostic accuracy of MAC with weight-for-height (P/T) in identifying acute malnutrition.
• To determine optimal cutoff points for MAC in different age and sex groups.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 182 children aged 2-10 years hospitalized in Valencia, Venezuela.
• Nutritional status assessed using mid-arm circumference-for-age (MAC) and weight-for-height (P/T).
• Statistical analysis included sensitivity, specificity, predictive values (Bayes Theorem), Kappa index, and ROC curve analysis.

Main Results:

• Prevalence of acute malnutrition was 34.6% by MAC and 28% by P/T, with good agreement between indicators (Kappa = 0.720).
• MAC demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity, performing better in preschool and school-aged boys.
• Recommended cutoff points: 14.9 cm for preschool children (85.5% sensitivity, 74.5% specificity) and 16 cm for school children (89.2% sensitivity, 80% specificity).

Conclusions:

• Mid-arm circumference (MAC) is a reliable and effective anthropometric indicator for the early detection of acute malnutrition in children.
• Establishing age- and sex-specific cutoff points for MAC can enhance the accuracy of nutritional deficit classification.
• MAC offers a valuable tool for public health initiatives aimed at combating childhood malnutrition.