Estimating Standing Height in Children with Spina Bifida
Author Information
Author(s): Bertapelli Fabio, Leonardi-Figueiredo Marisa Maia, Martins Emanuela Juvenal, Baptista Cyntia Rogean de Jesus Alves de, Mattiello-Sverzut Ana Claudia
Primary Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo
Hypothesis
Existing height estimation models may be biased for individuals with spina bifida.
Conclusion
Models may accurately estimate standing height in groups of children with spina bifida, but caution is recommended for individual estimations due to variability.
Supporting Evidence
- Arm span and group explained 95% of the variance in height.
- Mean differences between actual and estimated height were not significant for the developed model.
- Bland-Altman analysis showed variability in predictability across participants.
Takeaway
This study created a way to estimate how tall children with spina bifida are by measuring their arm span instead of their height, which can be hard to do.
Methodology
Participants included 14 with spina bifida and 83 without, aged 7-16 years, using arm span and group as predictors in a regression model.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small sample size and lack of participants with higher-level spinal cord injuries.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and focused on a narrow age range, limiting generalizability.
Participant Demographics
83 participants without spina bifida (46 males, 37 females; mean age 12.13 years) and 14 participants with spina bifida (5 males, 9 females; mean age 10.51 years).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95 % CI: 9.76, −9.81 cm
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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