Chest circumference as an indicator of intrauterine growth retardation.

Three hundred and fifty six intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) and 356 appropriate birth weight (ABW) babies were studied for a range of different anthropometric measurements. Birth weights was highly correlated with chest circumference (r = 0.64, P < 0.001; r = 0.76, P < 0.001), length (r = 0.71, P < 0.001; r = 0.68, P < 0.001), and head circumference (r = 0.49, P < 0.001; r = 0.53, P < 0.001) either in IUGR and ABW babies, respectively. There were weak statistically significant correlations between birth weight and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) (r = 0.65, P < 0.001; r = 0.15, P < 0.001), MUAC/head circumference (r = 0.43, P < 0.001; r = 0.13, P < 0.001), triceps skinfold thickness (r = 0.31, P < 0.001; r = 0.14, P < 0.001), and ponderal index (r = 0.23, P < 0.001, r = 0.33, P < 0.001) in IUGR and ABW babies. All anthropometric measurements had a statistically significant sensitivity and specificity for identifying intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). However, chest circumference < or = 29.0 cm; length < or = 47.5 cm; and head circumference < or = 33.0 cm has the highest sensitivity, specificity and predictive power. Chest circumference seems to be the easiest, cheapest and most reliable anthropometric measurement to assess IUGR.