The ratio of mid-arm circumference to occipital frontal circumference in Chinese babies: a marker of late gestation growth retardation.
The ratio of mid-arm circumference to occipital frontal circumference (MAC/OFC), an index of late gestation growth retardation, was determined in 175 healthy newborn term Chinese babies. The ratio of 0.31 (S.D., 0.02) was significantly higher than in recent data published for Asian, White and Black neonates: whether this is due to differences in measuring techniques or better intra-uterine nutrition remains to be seen. As an initial test of its potential usefulness this ratio was determined in 12 term Chinese babies who showed clinical signs of undernutrition. All but one had a ratio 2S.D. or more below the mean. The MAC/OFC ratio, with its ease of measurement, simplicity and cheapness, is a useful addition to existing methods for assessing late gestation nutritional status.
Department of Paediatrics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
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Davies
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Lui
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Lee
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Leung
D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology*