Inconsistent diagnosis of acute malnutrition by weight-for-height and mid-upper arm circumference: contributors in 16 cross-sectional surveys from South Sudan, the Philippines, Chad, and Bangladesh

Table 2 Factors associated with the diagnosis of acute malnutrition based on WHZ₋₂ and MUAC₁₂₅

Indicator	WHZ₋₂ (n = 2 727)				MUAC₁₂₅ (n = 1 550)				MUAC_125only (n = 601)
Population	All (N = 14 409)				All (N = 14 409)				MUAC_125only OR WHZ_-2only (N = 1 778)
Independent variable	β coeff.	95 % CI		P	β coeff.	95 % CI		P	β coeff.	95 % CI		P
Long legs (yes vs. No)	10.6	9.1	12.1	< 0.0001	3.4	2.3	4.6	< 0.0001	−4.2	−7.6	−0.7	0.019
Stunted (yes vs. No)	4.1	2.5	5.6	< 0.0001	9.2	8.0	10.4	< 0.0001	18.8	14.8	22.8	< 0.0001
Sex (male vs. female)	3.4	2.1	4.6	< 0.0001	−2.6	−3.5	−1.6	< 0.0001	−16.5	−19.5	−13.5	< 0.0001
Age (< 24 months vs. ≥ 24 months)	5.6	4.3	7.0	< 0.0001	17.1	16.1	18.2	< 0.0001	33.6	30.4	36.7	< 0.0001

Results are derived from multivariate multi-level linear regression models, with “survey” as random effect. The regression coefficients represent the absolute % increase in the dependent variables (WHZ₋₂, MUAC_125, MUAC₁₂₅) between the 2 categories of the independent variables (long legs, stunted, sex, age). All models were adjusted for all covariates

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