35 research outputs found
Percentile reference values for anthropometric body composition indices in European children from the IDEFICS study
INTRODUCTION: To characterise the nutritional status in children with obesity or wasting conditions, European anthropometric reference values for body composition measures beyond the body mass index (BMI) are needed. Differentiated assessment of body composition in children has long been hampered by the lack of appropriate references.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study is to provide percentiles for body composition indices in normal weight European children, based on the IDEFICS cohort (Identification and prevention of Dietary-and lifestyle-induced health Effects in Children and infantS).
METHODS: Overall 18 745 2.0-10.9-year-old children from eight countries participated in the study. Children classified as overweight/obese or underweight according to IOTF (N = 5915) were excluded from the analysis. Anthropometric measurements (BMI (N = 12 830); triceps, subscapular, fat mass and fat mass index (N = 11 845-11 901); biceps, suprailiac skinfolds, sum of skinfolds calculated from skinfold thicknesses (N = 8129-8205), neck circumference (N = 12 241); waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio (N = 12 381)) were analysed stratified by sex and smoothed 1st, 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 97th and 99th percentile curves were calculated using GAMLSS.
RESULTS: Percentile values of the most important anthropometric measures related to the degree of adiposity are depicted for European girls and boys. Age-and sex-specific differences were investigated for all measures. As an example, the 50th and 99th percentile values of waist circumference ranged from 50.7-59.2 cm and from 51.3-58.7 cm in 4.5-to < 5.0-year-old girls and boys, respectively, to 60.6-74.5 cm in girls and to 59.9-76.7 cm in boys at the age of 10.5-10.9 years.
CONCLUSION: The presented percentile curves may aid a differentiated assessment of total and abdominal adiposity in European children
Practice patterns of neurology in India: Fewer hands, more work
Background: India is a populous country housing over a billion people.
Neurology as a specialty is being practiced in India for over 50 years
but the number of physicians devoted to fulltime neurology is limited.
This fact coupled with the privatized healthcare system and limited
infrastructure has led to situations different from the more developed
healthcare systems. Aim: To study the practice patterns of neurology
in India. Setting and Design: Questionnaire-based study. Materials
and Methods: Questionnaire was sent to 250 members of the Indian
Academy of Neurology [sample size approximately 25%] using random
number table. The responses were tabulated and analyzed. Results and
Conclusions: The neurology group is small and hence is exposed to a
large workload. The average number of patients seen daily by Indian
neurologists is three to four times those seen by the United States and
United Kingdom neurologists. Neurologists based at district places are
more likely to see direct patients; whereas metropolitan neurologists
see more referrals. Investigative facilities are available to
neurologists but affordability is a concern. Clinical work leaves less
time for academic and research activities, which the consultants are
keen to participate in. In the privatized health system of India,
emergency work constitutes a difficult area to cope with. The concept
of single specialty group practice is welcomed by the majority with the
idea of streamlining their work and life. These factors highlight an
urgent need for increasing the neurology work force and argue for
further involvement of primary physicians and internists in
neurological care in India