S L Reeves1, C Varakamin, C J Henry. 1. School of Biological and Molecular Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The relationship between height and arm-span measurement in both sexes and different ethnic groups was studied in order to assess the use of the arm-span measurement as a suitable proxy indicator for height. SETTING: School of Biological and Molecular Sciences, Oxford Brookes University. SUBJECTS: Five hundred and fifty-three subjects (272 male and 281 female) aged 23.3 years (s.d. 5.5). RESULTS: Correlation coefficients (r = 0.73-0.89) indicated a clear association between arm-span measurements and height in all groups. However, arm-span was found to be significantly different (P < 0.01) from height in two ethnic groups, the Afro-Caribbean's of both sexes and Asian males. This suggests that arm-span measurements may be an inappropriate proxy for height in certain populations. CONCLUSION: The arm-span measurement and height relationship is significantly different in Afro-Caribbean and Asian males. This suggests that any future studies attempting to use arm-span measurement as a proxy for height must consider these ethnic differences.
OBJECTIVE: The relationship between height and arm-span measurement in both sexes and different ethnic groups was studied in order to assess the use of the arm-span measurement as a suitable proxy indicator for height. SETTING: School of Biological and Molecular Sciences, Oxford Brookes University. SUBJECTS: Five hundred and fifty-three subjects (272 male and 281 female) aged 23.3 years (s.d. 5.5). RESULTS: Correlation coefficients (r = 0.73-0.89) indicated a clear association between arm-span measurements and height in all groups. However, arm-span was found to be significantly different (P < 0.01) from height in two ethnic groups, the Afro-Caribbean's of both sexes and Asian males. This suggests that arm-span measurements may be an inappropriate proxy for height in certain populations. CONCLUSION: The arm-span measurement and height relationship is significantly different in Afro-Caribbean and Asian males. This suggests that any future studies attempting to use arm-span measurement as a proxy for height must consider these ethnic differences.
Authors: Ramesh Venkataraman; Lakshmi Ranganathan; Vipin Nirmal; J Kameshwaran; C V Sheela; M V Renuka; Nagarajan Ramakrishnan Journal: Indian J Crit Care Med Date: 2015-11