Comparison of anthropometric indicators to predict mortality in a population-based prospective study of children under 5 years in Niger. Issue 3 (9th September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Brien, Kieran S; Amza, Abdou; Kadri, Boubacar; Nassirou, Beido; Cotter, Sun Y; Stoller, Nicole E; West, Sheila K; Bailey, Robin L; Porco, Travis C; Keenan, Jeremy D; Lietman, Thomas M; Oldenburg, Catherine E
• Is Part Of: Public health nutrition. Volume 23:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 538
• Page End: 543
• Publication Date: 2019-09-09
• Subjects: Malnutrition, -- Anthropometry, -- Mortality, -- Niger; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutrition policy -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980019002520
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-9800

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: In the present study, we aimed to compare anthropometric indicators as predictors of mortality in a community-based setting. Design: We conducted a population-based longitudinal study nested in a cluster-randomized trial. We assessed weight, height and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) on children 12 months after the trial began and used the trial's annual census and monitoring visits to assess mortality over 2 years. Setting: Niger. Participants: Children aged 6–60 months during the study. Results: Of 1023 children included in the study at baseline, height-for-age Z -score, weight-for-age Z -score, weight-for-height Z -score and MUAC classified 777 (76·0 %), 630 (61·6 %), 131 (12·9 %) and eighty (7·8 %) children as moderately to severely malnourished, respectively. Over the 2-year study period, fifty-eight children (5·7 %) died. MUAC had the greatest AUC (0·68, 95 % CI 0·61, 0·75) and had the strongest association with mortality in this sample (hazard ratio = 2·21, 95 % CI 1·26, 3·89, P = 0·006). Conclusions: MUAC appears to be a better predictor of mortality than other anthropometric indicators in this community-based, high-malnutrition setting in Niger.