Abstract
Objective
To pool the correlation coefficients between birthweight (BW) and other newborn anthropometric measurements at birth.
Methods
Meta-analysis, using a random-effects model. Any study, published in the English language, showing the correlation coefficients between BW and other anthropometric measurements of living neonates at birth was eligible. The Z- scores, transformed from the correlation coefficients were pooled, and afterwards they were back transformed to the pooled correlation coefficients.
Results
The correlations of BW with (mid upper-) arm circumference (MUAC) and chest circumference (CHC) were frequently studied (n, 76 and 71; pooled correlation coefficient, 0.81 and 0.84; 95%CI, 0.78-0.84 and 0.82-0.86). The Z- scores of the pooled correlation coefficient between BW vs. CHC, the highest among the correlation coefficients of BW, was not substantially different from the Z- scores between BW vs. calf circumference (CC), thigh circumference (TC), MUAC, or abdominal circumference (AC) (p, 0.889, 0.351, 0.076, and 0.053, respectively), but the study numbers of CC, TC, or AC were remarkably low (n, 13, 19, and 6, respectively) compared with CHC or MUAC.
Conclusions
CHC and MUAC may be among the most promising candidates as the surrogates of BW, based on the study numbers, and the level of pooled correlation coefficients.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lin CM, Chen CW, Chen PT, Lu TH, Li CY. Risks and causes of mortality among low birth-weight infants in childhood and adolescence. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2007;21:465–72.
Syddall HE, Sayer AA, Simmonds SJ, et al. Birth weight, infant weight gain, and cause-specific mortality: the Hertfordshire Cohort Study. Am J Epidemiol. 2005;161:1074–80.
Bhargava SK, Ramji S, Kumar A, Mohan M, Marwah J, Sachdev HP. Mid-arm and chest circumferences at birth as predictors of low birth weight and neonatal mortality in the community. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1985;291:1617–9.
Fok TF, Hon KL, Wong E, et al. Trunk anthropometry of Hong Kong Chinese infants. Early Hum Dev. 2005;81:781–90.
Mullany LC, Darmstadt GL, Khatry SK, Leclerq SC, Tielsch JM. Relationship between the surrogate anthropometric measurements, foot length and chest circumference and birth weight among newborns of Sarlahi Nepal. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007;61:40–6.
Singh M, Paul VK, Deorari AD, Anandalakshmi PN, Sundaram KR. Simple tricoloured measuring tapes for identification of low birthweight babies by community health workers. Ann Trop Paediatr. 1988;8:87–91.
Chan GM, Moyer-Mileur L, Rallison L. An easy and accurate method of estimating newborn birthweight for resuscitation. Am J Perinatol. 1992;9:371–3.
Excler JL, Sann L, Lasne Y, Picard J. Anthropometric assessment of nutritional status in newborn infants. Discriminative value of mid arm circumference and of skinfold thickness. Early Hum Dev. 1985;11:169–78.
Reid MC, Lachs MS, Feinstein AR. Use of methodological standards in diagnostic test research. Getting better but still not good. JAMA. 1995;274:645–51.
Lijmer JG, Mol BW, Heisterkamp S, et al. Empirical evidence of design-related bias in studies of diagnostic tests. JAMA. 1999;282:1061–6.
Contributions
EG is responsible for study design, data collection and analysis, and manuscript drafting.
Conflict of Interest
None.
Role of Funding Source
None.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Goto, E. Meta-Analysis to Estimate the Correlation Coefficients Between Birthweight and Other Anthropometric Measurements at Birth. Indian J Pediatr 78, 311–318 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-010-0288-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-010-0288-6