Discriminant function analysis--a case study for an evaluation of various forms of protein energy malnutrition
Rao, K.V.; Reddy, P.J.; Narayanan, T.P.; Subhadradevi, V.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 69: 99-108
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 107119 Document Number: 144424
Discriminant functions for assessing the classification of children by degree of malnutrition reflected in height, wt, chest circumference, arm circumference, calf circumference, fat folds at triceps and calf, wt/height and wt/height2 were constructed. The power efficiency of various combinations of the measurements and the indices were compared between groups of apparently normal children and children with clinical signs of protein energy malnutrition (PEM); apparent normals with wt/height2 index less than 1.50 and PEM children; field PEM children and hospital PEM children and normals with wt/height2 more than 1.50 and PEM children. Height and wt/height2 or wt for height had good powers of discrimination in showing up differences between normals and undernourished groups. The relative merits of all the discriminant functions with various combinations of muscle, fat and skeletal reflective measurements were assessed. Based on the best set of measurements, estimation of various forms of malnutrition were provided and discussed.