What is the use of MUAC?

What is the use of MUAC?

What is it? Mid-upper arm circumference, often shortened to MUAC, is a measurement that allows health workers to quickly determine if a patient is acutely malnourished. PIH, as well as many other organizations, measures the circumference of a patient’s arm at the midpoint between his or her shoulder and elbow.

What is MUAC and How Is It measured?

Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) is the circumference of the left upper arm, measured at the mid-point between the tip of the shoulder and the tip of the elbow (olecranon process and the acromium). MUAC is used for the assessment of nutritional status.

How is MUAC calculated?

MUAC is the circumference of the left upper arm and is measured at the mid-point between the tips of the shoulder and elbow. To measure: Bend the left arm, find and mark with a pen the olecranon process and acromium. Mark the mid-point between these two marks.

What is the normal MUAC?

[6] MUAC is a useful indicator of malnutrition that can be used in ill patients (normal MUAC >23 cm in males, >22 cm in females).

Is MUAC an effective tool?

The MUAC measurement is effective, easy to perform, and requires minimal equipment, making it extremely valuable for community-based health workers serving remote areas. A measurement within the yellow zone means the patient is at risk of acute undernutrition.

What age is MUAC?

MUAC is a quick and simple way to determine whether or not a child is malnourished using a simple colored plastic strip. MUAC is suitable to use on children from the age of 12 months up to the age of 59 months. However, it can also be used for children over six months with length above 65 cm.

How do you calculate BMI using MUAC?

MUAC correlates suitably to BMI by means of the following equation (simple linear regression): BMI = − 0.042 + 0.873 x MUAC (cm) (R2 = 0.609), with a Pearson r value of 0.78 (p<0.001).

What is MUAC tape called?

Mid-Upper Arm Circumference
The MUAC tape (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference) is a durable, sterilizable bracelet that is wrapped around a child’s arm to determine malnourishment severity and appropriate treatment plan.

What is normal range of MUAC for adults?

Adults’ Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) measuring tape with a range of up to 56cm.

Is MUAC age dependent?

The main reason is that WHZ and MUACAZ take into account the sex and the age or the height of the child, whereas absolute MUAC is strongly age- and sex- dependent, thus malnutrition estimates are conditioned to the age and sex structure of the study population when this latter indicator is used [13].

What are the 2 signs of malnutrition?

Some signs and symptoms of malnutrition include:

  • a lack of appetite or interest in food or drink.
  • tiredness and irritability.
  • an inability to concentrate.
  • always feeling cold.
  • depression.
  • loss of fat, muscle mass, and body tissue.
  • a higher risk of getting sick and taking longer to heal.
  • longer healing time for wounds.