1. Anthropometric deficits and the associated risk of death by age and sex in children aged 6–59 months: A meta‐analysis
- Author
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Susan Thurstans, Stephanie V. Wrottesley, Bridget Fenn, Tanya Khara, Paluku Bahwere, James A. Berkley, Robert E. Black, Erin Boyd, Michel Garenne, Sheila Isanaka, Natasha Lelijveld, Christine M. McDonald, Andrew Mertens, Martha Mwangome, Kieran S. O'Brien, Heather Stobaugh, Sunita Taneja, Keith P. West, Saul Guerrero, Marko Kerac, André Briend, Mark Myatt, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), SOUtenabilité et RésilienCE (SOURCE), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Nord]), Epidémiologie des Maladies Emergentes - Emerging Diseases Epidemiology, Université Paris Cité (UPCité)-Pasteur-Cnam Risques infectieux et émergents (PACRI), Institut Pasteur [Paris] (IP)-Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers [CNAM] (CNAM), HESAM Université - Communauté d'universités et d'établissements Hautes écoles Sorbonne Arts et métiers université (HESAM)-HESAM Université - Communauté d'universités et d'établissements Hautes écoles Sorbonne Arts et métiers université (HESAM)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité)-Institut Pasteur [Paris] (IP)-Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers [CNAM] (CNAM), HESAM Université - Communauté d'universités et d'établissements Hautes écoles Sorbonne Arts et métiers université (HESAM)-HESAM Université - Communauté d'universités et d'établissements Hautes écoles Sorbonne Arts et métiers université (HESAM), Epicentre [Paris] [Médecins Sans Frontières], United States Agency for International Development, USAID, Irish Aid: HQPU/2021/ENN, This paper is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and by funding from Irish Aid (grant number (HQPU/2021/ENN). The contents are entirely the responsibility of its authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government or represent or reflect Irish Aid policy., Tampere University, and Clinical Medicine
- Subjects
Male ,Adolescent ,wasting ,Thinness ,underweight ,3123 Gynaecology and paediatrics ,Clinical Research ,Prevalence ,Humans ,sex ,Child ,Growth Disorders ,Pediatric ,Nutrition and Dietetics ,Anthropometry ,Nutrition & Dietetics ,Wasting Syndrome ,Prevention ,Malnutrition ,stunting ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Infant ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,mortality ,Good Health and Well Being ,age ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,Female ,Zero Hunger ,[SDV.AEN]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Food and Nutrition - Abstract
Risk of death from undernutrition is thought to be higher in younger than in older children, but evidence is mixed. Research also demonstrates sex differences whereby boys have a higher prevalence of undernutrition than girls. This analysis described mortality risk associated with anthropometric deficits (wasting, underweight and stunting) in children 6–59 months by age and sex. We categorised children into younger (6–23 months) and older (24–59 months) age groups. Age and sex variations in near-term (within 6 months) mortality risk, associated with individual anthropometric deficits were assessed in a secondary analysis of multi-country cohort data. A random effects meta-analysis was performed. Data from seven low-or-middle-income-countries collected between 1977 and 2013 were analysed. One thousand twenty deaths were recorded for children with anthropometric deficits. Pooled meta-analysis estimates showed no differences by age in absolute mortality risk for wasting (RR 1.08, p = 0.826 for MUAC < 125 mm; RR 1.35, p = 0.272 for WHZ < −2). For underweight and stunting, absolute risk of death was higher in younger (RR 2.57, p < 0.001) compared with older children (RR 2.83, p < 0.001). For all deficits, there were no differences in mortality risk for girls compared with boys. There were no differences in the risk of mortality between younger and older wasted children, supporting continued inclusion of all children under-five in wasting treatment programmes. The risk of mortality associated with underweight and stunting was higher among younger children, suggesting that prevention programmes might be justified in focusing on younger children where resources are limited. There were no sex differences by age in mortality risk for all deficits.
- Published
- 2022