Estimation of stature from upper arm length in children aged 4.0 to 6.92 y in Merida, Yucatan.
OBJECTIVE
To understand age-sex variation of stature and upper arm length (UAL) and to estimate stature from UAL through prediction equations.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was undertaken in 2006-2007 among 458 children (218 boys and 240 girls) aged 4.0 to 6.92 y of south Merida in Yucatan, Mexico.


RESULTS
The results show significant age variation (p < 0.001) of stature and upper arm length (UAL) in children. Boys show significantly higher mean stature and UAL compared to the girls. Relative proportion of upper arm length to stature is greater in boys. Interrelationship between stature and upper arm length exhibits significant association with respect to age and sex of children. Reconstruction of stature from upper arm length through regression analysis also gives good prediction models for separate and combined samples of both sexes with age. Regression coefficients for UAL predicting stature account for 0.90 or greater variance in the dependent variable (stature). The difference between reconstructed stature and the actual measurement is less than ±2.00 cm.


CONCLUSIONS
UAL appears to be a reliable indicator to estimate stature in children aged 4.0 to 6.92 y old.
Department of Human Ecology, Cinvestav-Merida, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. sdbanik@hotmail.com
Sudip
S
Datta Banik
Hugo
H
Azcorra
Graciela
G
Valentín
Barry
B
Bogin
Federico
F
Dickinson
D017677:Age Distribution; D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001827:Body Height / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D012016:Reference Values; D017678:Sex Distribution