Brachial circumference as an alternative to body mass index for the detection of in-hospital undernutrition in a referal hospital, Cameroon

• Published in: Médecine et santé tropicales (Montrouge, France) Vol. 27; no. 1; p. 62
• Main Authors: Eloumou Bagnaka, S A F, Luma Namme, H, Noah Noah, D, Nko'Ayissi, G B, Essomba, N E, Okon Anassis, J B, Malongue, A, Kenfack, R, Tzeuton, C, Mouelle Sone, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; French
• Published: France 01-02-2017
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arm - anatomy & histology; Body Mass Index; Body Weights and Measures; Cameroon; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Male; Malnutrition - diagnosis; Malnutrition - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Referral and Consultation; Young Adult; brachial circumference; Cameroon; body mass index; Africa; undernutrition
• ISSN: 2261-2211
• DOI: 10.1684/mst.2017.0650

The prevalence of undernutrition in hospitals in Africa is estimated at about 57 %. Simple anthropometric methods are available to detect it, including measurement of the brachial circumference (BC) and the body mass index (BMI). The aim of this study was to identify a threshold value that might make it possible to diagnose undernutrition in hospitals. It was a cross sectional study carried out at Douala General Hospital - Cameroon over a five months period. The measurements studied were: BMI, BC and percentage of weight loss. The Pearson test was used to compare the quantitative variables. The Receiving Operating Characteristic curve enabled us to determine a threshold value of the BC according to BMI. The study included 333 patients, with a mean age of 45 ± 16 years (range : 18-86). BMI and BC were strongly correlated; BC =11.69 + 0.68(BMI), with r
= 0.65 (P < 0.01)). The threshold value of BC retained to detect undernutrition was 27 cm. The prevalence of undernutrition at the Douala General Hospital varies according to the anthropometric parameter used. At a BC threshold of 27 cm, the prevalence of undenutrition in our population was 24,3%.