Associations between arterial oxygen saturation, body size and limb measurements among high‐altitude andean children. Issue 5 (1st August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pomeroy, Emma; Stock, Jay T.; Stanojevic, Sanja; Miranda, J. Jaime; Cole, Tim J.; Wells, Jonathan C.K.
• Is Part Of: American journal of human biology. Volume 25:Issue 5(2013:Sep./Oct.)
• Page Start: 629
• Page End: 636
• Publication Date: 2013-08-01
• Subjects: Human biology -- Periodicals; Physical anthropology -- Periodicals; Biologie humaine -- Périodiques; Anthropologie physique -- Périodiques; 612
• DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22422
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1042-0533

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="ajhb22422-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>The relative influences of hypoxia and other environmental stressors on growth at altitude remain unclear. Previous work demonstrated an association between peripheral arterial oxygen saturation (S<sub>p</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) and anthropometry (especially tibia length) among Tibetan and Han children at altitude. We investigated whether similar associations exist among Andeans, and the patterning of associations between S<sub>p</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and anthropometry.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajhb22422-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Stature, head‐trunk height, total upper and lower limb lengths, zeugopod (ulna and tibia) and autopod (hand and foot) lengths were measured in Peruvian children (0.5<bold>–</bold>14 years) living at >3000 m altitude. S<sub>p</sub>O<sub>2</sub> was measured by pulse oximetry. Anthropometry was converted to internal <italic>z</italic> scores. Correlation and multiple regression were used to examine associations between anthropometry <italic>z</italic> scores and S<sub>p</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, altitude, or S<sub>p</sub>O<sub>2</sub> adjusted for altitude since altitude is a major determinant of variation in S<sub>p</sub>O<sub>2</sub>.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajhb22422-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>S<sub>p</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and altitude show weak, significant correlations with zeugopod length <italic>z</italic> scores and still weaker significant correlations with total upper and lower limb length <italic>z</italic> scores. Correlations with <italic>z</italic> scores for stature, head‐trunk height<bold>, </bold> or autopod lengths are not significant. Adjusted for altitude, there is no significant association between anthropometry and S<sub>p</sub>O<sub>2</sub>.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajhb22422-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Associations between S<sub>p</sub>O<sub>2</sub> or altitude and total limb and zeugopod length <italic>z</italic> scores exist among Andean children. However, the relationships are relatively weak, and while the relationship between anthropometry and altitude may be partly mediated by S<sub>p</sub>O<sub>2, </sub> other factors that covary with altitude (e.g.<bold>, </bold> socioeconomic status, health) are likely to influence anthropometry. The results support suggestions that zeugopod lengths are particularly sensitive to environmental stressors. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 25:629–636, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </sec> </abstract>