RESEARCH: Assessing malnutrition

4 November 2005

Measuring upper arm circumference is at least as useful as assessing weight-for-height in predicting mortality among severely malnourished children, a study in Kenya has discovered.

Malnutrition is a major problem in sub-Saharan Africa, and is a frequent cause of death in young children. It is, however, often poorly assessed. The World Health Organization recommends using weight-for-height, but this is often not done in practice and is prone to errors.

Jay Berkley and colleagues at the Wellcome–KEMRI Research Programme assessed two other simple approaches – measuring upper arm circumference and a clinical sign of 'visible severe wasting' – in 8000 paediatric admissions to Kilifi District Hospital. Weight-for-height and upper arm measures were equally effective at predicting likelihood of death, and even the simple visual assessment correlated with risk of death.

The researchers suggest that measuring upper arm circumference is a potentially useful way of assessing severe malnutrition easily, and visual diagnosis could also be applicable, if the right training were provided.

External links

Berkley J et al. Assessment of severe malnutrition among hospitalized children in rural Kenya: comparison of weight for height and mid upper arm circumference. JAMA 2005;294(5):591–7.