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Laser beam measurement of abdominal sagittal diameter in obese children: a validation study
Author(s) -
Flodmark C.E.,
Shen W.,
Punyanitya M.,
Leander P.,
Lanke J.,
Pietrobelli A.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pediatric obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.226
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 2047-6310
pISSN - 2047-6302
DOI - 10.1111/j.2047-6310.2012.00095.x
Subject(s) - medicine , nuclear medicine , sagittal plane , magnetic resonance imaging , iliac crest , repeated measures design , radiology , surgery , statistics , mathematics
SummaryWhat is already known about this subject Sagittal diameter (SAD), i.e. the mid height of the abdomen when lying down, has been reported to correlate to visceral fat, insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk factors in adults. SAD seems to be the best anthropometric predictor of cardiovascular risk, and also of more importance than waist circumference (WC) in adults. There has been no validation studies comparing SAD measured with anthropometric tools (e.g. ruler) to measurements made with more exact devices such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in pediatric age.What this study adds This new reliable method is ideal for children due to limited body contact and no radiation. It is accurate, less expensive than MRI, and also easier to perform than measuring WC. It is easily available for screening purposes making future epidemiological studies possible evaluating health risks related to regional distribution of abdominal tissue.Objectives Sagittal diameter ( SAD ) has been reported to correlate to visceral fat and cardiovascular risk factors. SAD is measured with the individual lying down, halfway between the lower rib margin and the iliac crest; it represents the mid‐height of the abdomen. The aim of this study was to validate SAD measured using a recently‐developed laser beam device ( SAD LDB ) against SAD measured using MRI ( SAD MRI ). Methods Of 48 obese children (25 boys, 23 girls) aged 9–11 years on the waiting list for obesity treatment, 34 agreed to a baseline measurement, which was followed by repeated measurements 6 and 12 months later in 31 and 22 children respectively. MRI was used to examine SAD MRI at 5 cm above ( SAD MRI ,cra ) and below ( SAD MRI ,cau ) the mid plane of the L4‐5 intervertebral disc. Results Each of the differences SAD LBD – SAD MRI ,cau and SAD LBD – SAD MRI ,cra was subjected to a repeated‐measurements ANOVA ; the visit did not have a statistically significant effect in either case (p = 0.19 and p = 0.72, respectively). The difference SAD LBD – SAD MRI ,cau was 1.50 on average (p < 0.0001; CI 1.26–1.74) while the corresponding figure for SAD LBD – SAD MRI ,cra was 1.26 (p < 0.0001; CI 1.04–1.49). Regression of the difference on the mean gave slopes of –0.09 (p = 0.25) and –0.04 (p = 0.57) respectively. Prediction of SAD MRI from SAD LDB can be performed in different ways: by means of linear regression or by means of an additive correction. Conclusions Thus, this laser device can be used instead of MRI to estimate SAD by using a simple correction.