Use of anthropometric indices to reveal nutritional status: normative data from 10,226 Chinese neonates.

BACKGROUND

Measures of body size at birth are widely used for the evaluation of prenatal growth but limitations exist in their interpretation.

OBJECTIVE

To establish the percentile curves for the six common anthropometric indices (PI: ponderal index, BMI: body mass index, THR: thigh circumference/head circumference ratio, MAC/OFC: mid-arm circumference/head circumference, W/OFC: weight/head circumference, and W/L: weight/length) and determine the best anthropometric index for evaluating intrauterine nutritional status in Chinese neonates.

METHODS

A prospective cross-sectional anthropometric study was carried out. The anthropometric measurements were performed according to the Hall's guidelines within 48 h of birth.

RESULTS

10,226 infants (5,422 males, 4,804 females) with gestation 28-42 weeks from 12 hospitals were included for analysis. All of the six anthropometric indices correlated well with total skinfold thickness (T-SF, the sum of triceps skinfold thickness and subscapular skinfold thickness; p < 0.0001). Among the six anthropometric indices, W/L showed the highest correlation coefficient with T-SF (r = 0.622; p < 0.0001 in whole group, r = 0.653; p < 0.0001 in preterm infants, r = 0.612; p < 0.0001 in term infants).

CONCLUSION

The present study establishes the gender-specific reference curves for the six important anthropometric indices in Chinese infants. W/L is a readily available index at birth that reflects the intrauterine nutritional state.