Upper body segment to lower body segment and arm span to height ratios among children with sickle cell anaemia in Lagos

Abstract

Objective: To determine ratios of upper body segment to lower body segment and arm span to height in the sickle cell anaemia patients
Background: Sickle cell anaemia may adversely affect linear growth and body proportions.

Methods: Height, upper segment and arm span were measured in
100 sickle cell anaemia patients aged eight months to 15 years and
100 age/sex matched controls. Lower body segment length, upper body segment to lower body segment ratio, and arm-span to height ratio were derived.
Results: Sickle cell anaemia subjects older than 10 years had significantly shorter upper body segment than controls (p = 0.035 and p = 0.004 for males and females respectively). The mean upper segment/lower segment ratio decreased with age among primary subjects (SS) and AA
controls. In comparison with AA controls, female sickle cell anaemia subjects older than 10years had significantly lower mean upper body
segment to lower body segment ratio (p = 0.005). Mean arm span was significantly shorter in male sickle cell anaemia patients older than 5 years (p = 0.034 at 5 to 10 years and p = 0.029 at . 10 years) and in females older than 10 years than in controls (p = 0.025). The mean arm  span/height ratio was lower in sickle cell anaemia subjects than controls, except in males younger than five years.
Conclusions: Sickle cell anaemia patients older than 10 years have
shorter mean upper segment. In this age group, females also had
significantly lower upper segment to lower segment ratio.

Keywords: sickle cell anaemia, upper body segment, lower body segment, ratio