Evaluation of diagnostic criteria and cut-off points to predict underweight among adolescents from the Brazilian semiarid region

Abstract Objectives: to evaluate diagnostic criteria and to propose arm and calf circumference cutoff points to predict underweight in adolescents aged 13-19 years in two Brazilian municipalities of the semiarid region. Methods: underweight was defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than two z-s...

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Main Authors: Samuel Dumith (Author), Aline Monteiro (Author), Monica Muraro (Author), Mariane Dias (Author), Kara Machado (Author), Manoela Oliz (Author), Juraci Almeida Cesar (Author)
Format: Book
Published: Instituto Materno Infantil de Pernambuco.
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Summary:Abstract Objectives: to evaluate diagnostic criteria and to propose arm and calf circumference cutoff points to predict underweight in adolescents aged 13-19 years in two Brazilian municipalities of the semiarid region. Methods: underweight was defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than two z-scores, according to World Health Organization criteria (2007). Measurements of arm and calf circumferences were compared to BMI, and the diagnostic criteria for low-weight prediction were evaluated with the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, coefficients of sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, kappa and diagnostic odds ratios. Results: the prevalence of underweight was 4.2% (CI95%= 3.3-5.0). The cutoff points for arm circumference were 22.1 cm (adolescents of both genders aged 13-15 years), and 25.1 cm and 24.0 cm, respectively, for males and females aged 16-19 years. The cutoff points for calf circumference were 30.0 cm in the first group and 31.8 cm and 31.0 cm, respectively, in the second age group. Conclusions: both anthropometric indicators analyzed evidenced a reasonable to excellent diagnostic capacity to predict underweight among adolescents.
Item Description:1806-9304
10.1590/1806-93042018000100012