Arm span and knee height as predictors of stature among Peradeniya medical students

Background:The Stature or height is one of the most used anthropometric measurements in clinical medicine for the calculation of many parameters. When the accurate measurement for stature is unobtainable, other surrogates are used to predict stature. Arm span and knee height are proven to be reliable predictors of stature in such circumstances. Inter and intra population variations may be observed in relation to anthropometry due to factors such as genetic makeup, age, gender and ethnicity. Though many Asian races have been studied in relation to these parameters, similar studies were not reported among any ethnic group or age group in Sri Lanka. Thus the aim of the present study was to analyze the correlation between stature and two anthropometric variables; the arm span and knee height of young Sinhalese medical students of University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and to predict the best.

Methods: Young Sinhalese medical students were selected randomly and stature, arm span and knee height were measured using standard anthropometric techniques. Pearson’s coefficients of correlation and regression equations were calculated using SPSS statistical package between stature and the two anthropometric variables.

Results: A total of 196 Sinhalese medical students (101 male, 95 females) of 20-26 years of age were studied. The arm span showed a strong significant linear correlation(r) with stature (r=0.832,r²=0.692; r=0.879,r²=0.773, p=0.000.for males and females respectively) while knee height too has shown a similar relationship. (r=0.740,r²=0.0548;r=0.668, r²=0.446, p=0.000. for males and females respectively) However arm span correlates best with the stature in this study group. Following equations were derived to predict the stature (Y). In males Y=48.801+ 0.6784 Arm span, and Y=73.945+ 1.784 Knee height, in females Y=47.451+ 0.678 Arm Span and Y=95.427+ 1.249 Knee height.

Conclusion: Arm span is the best parameter to predict stature for both genders of young Sinhalese medical students of University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/slja.v19i2.4245  

Sri Lankan Journal of Anaesthesiology Vol.19(2) 2011 pp.76-80