Detection of Malnutrition in Older Infants by Measurement of Mid arm Circumference

  • Dr Jayashree Nadkarni MD, Associate Professor, Gandhi Medical College and Associated Kamla Nehru Hospital, Bhopal (M.P), India 462016
  • Dr Utkarsh Sharma MBBS Intern, Gandhi Medical College and Associated Kamla Nehru Hospital, Bhopal (M.P), India 462016
  • Dr Ravindra Bagde Resident for DCH, Gandhi Medical College and Associated Kamla Nehru Hospital, Bhopal (M.P), India 462016
  • Dr Rashmi Dwivedi MD, Professor and Head, Department of Paediatrics, Gandhi Medical College and Associated Kamla Nehru Hospital, Bhopal (M.P), India 462016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17511/ijmrr.2013.i04.03
Keywords: MAC, PEM, infants

Abstract

Introduction- Mid-arm circumference (MAC) has been widely used as an age-independent indicator of undernutrition at 1-5 years of age. Its role below one year of age has not been extensively studied. Growth faltering which predicts protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) usually begins between ages 6 and 12 month. This study aimed to determine the age-independent character of MAC within 7-11 month age group and search for a reliable cut off point.

Methods- This institutional based, cross-sectional, observational study was done at three government hospitals including a teaching tertiary level hospital. Study variables were age, sex, height, body weight & mid arm circumference. Mid arm circumference was validated against weight for age percentage and Standard deviation score.

Results- Mean MAC of the infants increased very little with age from 7-11months. The cut off points from 13.0 to 12.5 cm showed maximum diagnostic accuracy.

Conclusions- MAC measurement is a simple and valid tool for detection of early PEM in this crucial age bracket However, further studies are suggested, preferably community based and in a larger sample to establish the validity of MAC to detect PEM in infants.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Pust R, Johnson P, Lautenschlager J. Detecting malnutrition at age 6-12 months: international comparisons of arm circumference v. standard anthropometry. J Trop Pediatr. 1992 Oct; 38(5):240-6. [PubMed]

2. Bhalla AK. Longitudinal Growth of Arm Circumference in Punjabi Infants. Indian Pediatr. 1999 Mar; 36(3):257-62. [PubMed]

3. Bhatia RC, Pooni PA, Singh H, Singh D. Mid-arm circumference for detecting malnutrition during infancy. Indian J Pediatr.1999 Nov-Dec; 66(6):843-8. [PubMed]

4. Myatt M, Khara T, Collins S. A review of methods to detect cases of severely malnourished children in the community for their admission into community-based therapeutic care programs. Food Nutr Bull. 2006 Sep; 27(3 Suppl):S7-23. [PubMed]

5. Sadhukhan SK, Chatterjee C, Shrivastava P, Sardar JC, Joardar GK, Lahiri S. Validity of mid arm circumference to detect protein energy malnutrition among 8-11 months old infants in a rural medical college of West Bengal. J Indian Med Assoc. 2010 Sep; 108(9):559-62. [PubMed]

6. Physical status: the use and interpretation of anthropometry. Report of a WHO Expert Committee. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 1995;854:1-452. [PubMed]

7. Jelliffe DB, Jelliffe EF. Age-independent anthropometry. Am J Clin Nutr.1971 Dec;24(12):1377-9. [PubMed]

8. Yost DA, Pust RE. Arm circumference as an index of protein – energy malnutrition in 6-11 month old rural Tanzanian children. J Trop Pediatr. 1988 Dec;34(6):275-81. [PubMed]

9. www.WHO.int/childgrowth.standards/weight_for_age/en/index.html

10. Martorell R, Yarbrough C, Lechtig A, Delgado H, Klein RE. Upper arm anthropometric indicators of nutritional status. Am J Clin Nutr. 1976 Jan;29(1):46-53.
CITATION
DOI: 10.17511/ijmrr.2013.i04.03
Published: 2013-10-31
How to Cite
1.
Nadkarni J, Sharma U, Bagde R, Dwivedi R. Detection of Malnutrition in Older Infants by Measurement of Mid arm Circumference. Int J Med Res Rev [Internet]. 2013Oct.31 [cited 2024Dec.23];1(4):156-61. Available from: https://ijmrr.medresearch.in/index.php/ijmrr/article/view/27
Issue
Vol 1 No 4 (2013): Sep-Oct
Section
Original Article