Geographical altitude, size, mass and body surface area in children (1-4 years) in the Province of Jujuy (Argentina).

BACKGROUND: Highland child populations show low growth rates. AIM: To evaluate the variation of size, mass and body surface area of Jujenean infants (1-4 years) as a function of geographic altitude. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Nutritional status of 8059 healthy infants was determined based on weight and height data; body mass index, ponderal index, body surface area, body surface area/mass and ectomorphy were calculated. Variables were standardized with a provincial mean and WHO references. Data were grouped by age, sex and geographic altitude: Highlands (≥2500 masl) and Lowlands (<2500 masl). Chi-square, correlation and t-tests were applied. RESULTS: Highlands infants had higher prevalence of stunting, reduced height, weight, body surface area and ectomorphy; also higher body mass index, ponderal index and body surface area/mass. The population average z-score for height, weight and body surface area was positive in Lowlands and negative in Highlands. The opposite happened with body mass index, ponderal index and body surface area/mass. In Highlands and Lowlands the average z-score reference was negative for weight and height and positive for body mass index. Correlations between indices were high and significant, higher in Highlands. CONCLUSION: Jujenean children differ in size, mass and body surface area based on the geographical altitude and adverse nutritional and socioeconomic factors.

Índice compuesto de fracaso antropométrico y altura geográfica en infantes jujeños (1-5 años) / Composite index of anthropometric failure and geographic altitude in children from Jujuy (1 to 5 years old)

Introducción. El índice compuesto de fracaso antropométrico (ICFA), integrado por los índices antropométricos habituales y sus combinaciones en 7 categorías, propone una medida agregada para ponderar la desnutrición como alternativa a la evaluación independiente del acortamiento, emaciación y bajo peso. Objetivo. Evaluar el ICFA en la población infantil jujeña asentada a distintos niveles altitudinales. Materiales y métodos. El peso y la talla se tomaron de los controles de niños sanos, de 1-5 años, realizados en los Centros de Atención Primaria (CAP) jujeños entre 2005 y 2007. El estado nutricional (bajo peso, acortamiento y emaciado) se caracterizó con el estándar OMS-2007. El ICFA y sus 7 grupos se calcularon agrupando los datos por sexo, edad y nivel altitudinal (tierras altas: > 2500 msnm; tierras bajas: < 2500msnm). Las diferencias porcentuales del ICFA por altura y sexo y edad se verificaron con la prueba chi-cuadrado. Resultados. Se incluyeron 8059 niños. El ICFA de tierras altas (6,1%) duplicó al de tierras bajas (3,4%) (p < 0,05) y la prevalencia de bajo peso (grupo Y) fue significativamente superior en tierras altas (p < 0,05). El ICFA y el acortamiento (grupo F) aumentaron con la edad, pero el aumento fue significativamente mayor en tierras altas. Conclusiones. Las tierras altas presentaron un IFCA significativamente mayor a expensas del acortamiento. No obstante, el índice de fracaso antropométrico no superó el 10% en los dos niveles, lo que da cuenta de un estado sanitario por desnutrición de escasa magnitud en la población infantil jujeña estudiada.

Introduction. The Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF) is made up of typical anthropometric indicators and their combination into seven categories, and proposes an additional measure to study malnutrition as an alternative to the evaluation of stunting, wasting and underweight as separate measures. Objective. To assess the CIAF in the child population settled at different altitudinal zones in Jujuy. Population and Methods. Weight and height were obtained from healthy 1 to 5 year-old control children, measured at primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) in Jujuy between 2005 and 2007. Nutritional status indicators such as underweight, stunting and wasting were determined as per the World Health Organization 2007 child growth standards. The CIAF and its seven categories were estimated by grouping data by gender, age and altitudinal zone (highlands: >2500 MASL; lowlands: <2500 MASL). The CIAF percentage differences for height, gender and age were verified using a chi-square test. Results. A total of 8059 children were included. The CIAF for highland children (6.1%) doubled that for lowland children (3.4%) (p < 0.05), and underweight prevalence (group Y) was significantly higher in the highlands (p < 0.05). The CIAF value and stunting (group F) increased with age, but such increase was more significant in the highlands. Conclusions. A significantly higher CIAF was observed in highland children, at the expense of stunting. However, the index of anthropometric failure was not more than 10% at both the highlands and the lowlands, and this accounts for a scarcely significant malnutrition health status in the studied child population of Jujuy.

Indice compuesto de fracaso antropométrico y altura geográfica en infantes jujeños (1-5 años) / Composite index of anthropometric failure and geographic altitude in children from Jujuy (1 to 5 years old)

Introducción. El índice compuesto de fracaso antropométrico (ICFA), integrado por los índices antropométricos habituales y sus combinaciones en 7 categorías, propone una medida agregada para ponderar la desnutrición como alternativa a la evaluación independiente del acortamiento, emaciación y bajo peso. Objetivo. Evaluar el ICFA en la población infantil jujeña asentada a distintos niveles altitudinales. Materiales y métodos. El peso y la talla se tomaron de los controles de niños sanos, de 1-5 años, realizados en los Centros de Atención Primaria (CAP) jujeños entre 2005 y 2007. El estado nutricional (bajo peso, acortamiento y emaciado) se caracterizó con el estándar OMS-2007. El ICFA y sus 7 grupos se calcularon agrupando los datos por sexo, edad y nivel altitudinal (tierras altas: > 2500 msnm; tierras bajas: < 2500msnm). Las diferencias porcentuales del ICFA por altura y sexo y edad se verificaron con la prueba chi-cuadrado. Resultados. Se incluyeron 8059 niños. El ICFA de tierras altas (6,1%) duplicó al de tierras bajas (3,4%) (p < 0,05) y la prevalencia de bajo peso (grupo Y) fue significativamente superior en tierras altas (p < 0,05). El ICFA y el acortamiento (grupo F) aumentaron con la edad, pero el aumento fue significativamente mayor en tierras altas. Conclusiones. Las tierras altas presentaron un IFCA significativamente mayor a expensas del acortamiento. No obstante, el índice de fracaso antropométrico no superó el 10% en los dos niveles, lo que da cuenta de un estado sanitario por desnutrición de escasa magnitud en la población infantil jujeña estudiada.(AU)

Introduction. The Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF) is made up of typical anthropometric indicators and their combination into seven categories, and proposes an additional measure to study malnutrition as an alternative to the evaluation of stunting, wasting and underweight as separate measures. Objective. To assess the CIAF in the child population settled at different altitudinal zones in Jujuy. Population and Methods. Weight and height were obtained from healthy 1 to 5 year-old control children, measured at primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) in Jujuy between 2005 and 2007. Nutritional status indicators such as underweight, stunting and wasting were determined as per the World Health Organization 2007 child growth standards. The CIAF and its seven categories were estimated by grouping data by gender, age and altitudinal zone (highlands: >2500 MASL; lowlands: <2500 MASL). The CIAF percentage differences for height, gender and age were verified using a chi-square test. Results. A total of 8059 children were included. The CIAF for highland children (6.1%) doubled that for lowland children (3.4%) (p < 0.05), and underweight prevalence (group Y) was significantly higher in the highlands (p < 0.05). The CIAF value and stunting (group F) increased with age, but such increase was more significant in the highlands. Conclusions. A significantly higher CIAF was observed in highland children, at the expense of stunting. However, the index of anthropometric failure was not more than 10% at both the highlands and the lowlands, and this accounts for a scarcely significant malnutrition health status in the studied child population of Jujuy.(AU)

Composite index of anthropometric failure and geographic altitude in children from Jujuy (1 to 5 years old).

INTRODUCTION: The Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF) is made up of typical anthropometric indicators and their combination into seven categories, and proposes an additional measure to study malnutrition as an alternative to the evaluation of stunting, wasting and underweight as separate measures. OBJECTIVE: To assess the CIAF in the child population settled at different altitudinal zones in Jujuy. POPULATION AND METHODS: Weight and height were obtained from healthy 1 to 5 year-old control children, measured at primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) in Jujuy between 2005 and 2007. Nutritional status indicators such as underweight, stunting and wasting were determined as per the World Health Organization 2007 child growth standards. The CIAF and its seven categories were estimated by grouping data by gender, age and altitudinal zone (highlands: >2500 MASL; lowlands: <2500 MASL). The CIAF percentage differences for height, gender and age were verified using a chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 8059 children were included. The CIAF for highland children (6.1%) doubled that for lowland children (3.4%) (p < 0.05), and underweight prevalence (group Y) was significantly higher in the highlands (p < 0.05). The CIAF value and stunting (group F) increased with age, but such increase was more significant in the highlands. CONCLUSIONS: A significantly higher CIAF was observed in highland children, at the expense of stunting. However, the index of anthropometric failure was not more than 10% at both the highlands and the lowlands, and this accounts for a scarcely significant malnutrition health status in the studied child population of Jujuy.

Composite index of anthropometric failure and geographic altitude in children from Jujuy (1 to 5 years old). / Composite index of anthropometric failure and geographic altitude in children from Jujuy (1 to 5 years old).

INTRODUCTION: The Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF) is made up of typical anthropometric indicators and their combination into seven categories, and proposes an additional measure to study malnutrition as an alternative to the evaluation of stunting, wasting and underweight as separate measures. OBJECTIVE: To assess the CIAF in the child population settled at different altitudinal zones in Jujuy. POPULATION AND METHODS: Weight and height were obtained from healthy 1 to 5 year-old control children, measured at primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) in Jujuy between 2005 and 2007. Nutritional status indicators such as underweight, stunting and wasting were determined as per the World Health Organization 2007 child growth standards. The CIAF and its seven categories were estimated by grouping data by gender, age and altitudinal zone (highlands: >2500 MASL; lowlands: <2500 MASL). The CIAF percentage differences for height, gender and age were verified using a chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 8059 children were included. The CIAF for highland children (6.1

) doubled that for lowland children (3.4

) (p < 0.05), and underweight prevalence (group Y) was significantly higher in the highlands (p < 0.05). The CIAF value and stunting (group F) increased with age, but such increase was more significant in the highlands. CONCLUSIONS: A significantly higher CIAF was observed in highland children, at the expense of stunting. However, the index of anthropometric failure was not more than 10

at both the highlands and the lowlands, and this accounts for a scarcely significant malnutrition health status in the studied child population of Jujuy.