Accuracy of neck circumference in the diagnosis of overweight in children.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate the accuracy of measuring neck circumference as a diagnostic method for overweight in 10-year-old children. METHODS: A cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study was performed in 2019. The population was composed of 942 school children from the municipality of Palhoça, SC, Brazil. For each measurement of the neck circumference, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, likelihood ratio for a positive test, and accuracy were estimated using the receiver operator characteristic curve, with body mass index as a reference. RESULTS: The estimated overall accuracy was 88.9%. For males, the accuracy was 90.1%, and for females, 88.5%. A 30.0 cm neck circumference had a sensitivity of 22.8%, a specificity of 95.4%, a positive predictive value of 76.6%, a negative predictive value of 65.3%, a likelihood ratio for a positive test of 5.0, and an accuracy of 66.7% for all students. CONCLUSION: Neck circumference showed a global accuracy of 88.9% as a method for diagnosing overweight in 10-year-old children. Predictive values showed high values, mainly starting with a neck circumference of 30 cm.

Accuracy of neck circumference in the diagnosis of overweight in children

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate the accuracy of measuring neck circumference as a diagnostic method for overweight in 10-year-old children. METHODS: A cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study was performed in 2019. The population was composed of 942 school children from the municipality of Palhoça, SC, Brazil. For each measurement of the neck circumference, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, likelihood ratio for a positive test, and accuracy were estimated using the receiver operator characteristic curve, with body mass index as a reference. RESULTS: The estimated overall accuracy was 88.9%. For males, the accuracy was 90.1%, and for females, 88.5%. A 30.0 cm neck circumference had a sensitivity of 22.8%, a specificity of 95.4%, a positive predictive value of 76.6%, a negative predictive value of 65.3%, a likelihood ratio for a positive test of 5.0, and an accuracy of 66.7% for all students. CONCLUSION: Neck circumference showed a global accuracy of 88.9% as a method for diagnosing overweight in 10-year-old children. Predictive values showed high values, mainly starting with a neck circumference of 30 cm.

Accuracy of neck circumference for diagnosing overweight in sixand seven-year-old children

Abstract Objective: To estimate the accuracy of neck circumference measurement as a method of diagnosing excess weight of six and seven-year-old children. Methods: 1026 six and seven-year-old children were included and anthropometric data were collected using cut-off points for the Body Mass Index (BMI) Z-score, in addition to the measurement of their neck circumference in centimeters. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between neck circumference and BMI. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. The Receiver Operating Characteristic curve was used to measure the accuracy of neck circumference as a diagnostic method for excess weight. Results: A positive linear correlation value was observed between neck circumference and BMI 0.572 (p < 0.001). The accuracy value of the global ROC curve was 0.772 (p < 0.001). Sensitivity and specificity showed low values, but high positive predictive values were observed, especially between measures of 30 and 31 cm. Conclusion: Neck circumference showed accuracy of 77.2% as a diagnostic method for overweightness in six and seven-year-old children.

Accuracy of neck circumference for diagnosing overweight in six- and seven-year-old children.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the accuracy of neck circumference measurement as a method of diagnosing excess weight of six and seven-year-old children. METHODS: 1026 six and seven-year-old children were included and anthropometric data were collected using cut-off points for the Body Mass Index (BMI) Z-score, in addition to the measurement of their neck circumference in centimeters. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between neck circumference and BMI. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. The Receiver Operating Characteristic curve was used to measure the accuracy of neck circumference as a diagnostic method for excess weight. RESULTS: A positive linear correlation value was observed between neck circumference and BMI 0.572 (p<0.001). The accuracy value of the global ROC curve was 0.772 (p<0.001). Sensitivity and specificity showed low values, but high positive predictive values were observed, especially between measures of 30 and 31cm. CONCLUSION: Neck circumference showed accuracy of 77.2% as a diagnostic method for overweightness in six and seven-year-old children.