title: Chest circumference as an indicator of intrauterine growth retardation.
abstract: Three hundred and fifty six intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) and 356 appropriate birth weight (ABW) babies were studied for a range of different anthropometric measurements. Birth weights was highly correlated with chest circumference (r = 0.64, P < 0.001; r = 0.76, P < 0.001), length (r = 0.71, P < 0.001; r = 0.68, P < 0.001), and head circumference (r = 0.49, P < 0.001; r = 0.53, P < 0.001) either in IUGR and ABW babies, respectively. There were weak statistically significant correlations between birth weight and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) (r = 0.65, P < 0.001; r = 0.15, P < 0.001), MUAC/head circumference (r = 0.43, P < 0.001; r = 0.13, P < 0.001), triceps skinfold thickness (r = 0.31, P < 0.001; r = 0.14, P < 0.001), and ponderal index (r = 0.23, P < 0.001, r = 0.33, P < 0.001) in IUGR and ABW babies. All anthropometric measurements had a statistically significant sensitivity and specificity for identifying intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). However, chest circumference < or = 29.0 cm; length < or = 47.5 cm; and head circumference < or = 33.0 cm has the highest sensitivity, specificity and predictive power. Chest circumference seems to be the easiest, cheapest and most reliable anthropometric measurement to assess IUGR.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Department, Public Health School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Rondó
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tomkins
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006257:Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D013909:Thorax / Q000033:anatomy & histology*