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Updated: Jun 15, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTHROPOMETRIC INDICES AND LEFT VENTRICULAR MASS IN CHILDREN WITH SEVERE ACUTE MALNUTRITION IN
M O Usman1, M A Danimoh2, I Jalo1,3
1Department of Paediatrics, Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria.
Insights
Anthropometric indices show some correlation with left ventricular mass (LVM) in children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). However, these measurements cannot reliably predict LVM in this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Nutritional Science
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is associated with cardiac muscle wasting and increased mortality.
- Anthropometric measurements are standard for diagnosing SAM.
- The relationship between anthropometric indices and cardiac function in SAM requires further investigation.
Introduction:
Severe acute malnutrition (SAM), which is diagnosed through anthropometric measurement, causes cardiac muscle wasting and this has been linked to increased mortality.
Objective:
This study aimed at determining the relationship between anthropometric indices and left ventricular mass (LVM) in children with SAM in Gombe State. This is to determine if anthropometric indices can be used to estimate/predict LVM in these children.
Methods:
One hundred and thirty-two children with SAM aged 6 to 36 months were recruited from all the five primary health care centres that offer community management of acute malnutrition in Gombe State. Their anthropometric indices (weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), body surface area (BSA), body mass index (BMI) and weight-for-height Z score (WHZ) were measured/derived). Their left ventricular indices were also measured using two dimensional echocardiography.
Results:
The mean weight, height, MUAC, BSA and BMI were 5.5+1.2kg, 69+6.1cm, 10.2+0.9cm, 0.33+0.05m2 and 11.6+1.4kg/m2, respectively. The mean LVM was 17.7+7.1g. Weight, BSA, height, BMI and MUAC had significant positive correlation with LVM [r = 0.55, r=0.53, r = 0.43, r = 0.3 and r = 0.3(p=0.001)], respectively. The determination coefficients(R2) of anthropometric indices with LVM were 0.30, 0.284 and 0.187 for weight, BSA and height, respectively. However, in multiple regression model, no anthropometric index was significantly associated with LVM.
Conclusion:
Some of anthropometric indices had direct linear relationship with LVM but none of them can be used to estimate/predict LVM in children with SAM in Gombe State.
