WHAT IS MUAC?    DIFFERENCE BETWEEN Z-SCORES AND GROWTH CHARTS     BENEFITS OF TRACKING Z-SCORES    CHALLENGES IN MEASURING CHILDREN    BENEFITS OF USING MUAC TAPES    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU SCREEN

WHAT IS MUAC?

Mid-Upper Arm Circumference is a measurement of the circumference around the middle of the upper arm. It measures muscle and fat mass in children, which is an important indicator of their nutritional status¹.

The MUAC z-score tape is a simple, inexpensive, reusable plastic device that resembles a traditional measuring tape and includes customisable age indicators.

It allows healthcare professionals (HCPs) and caregivers to take these measurements in children aged 2 months to 18 years for an easy assessment of malnutrition risk.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN Z-SCORES AND GROWTH CHARTS (CENTILES)²

BENEFITS OF TRACKING Z-SCORES²

The use of z-scores is helpful for children who are very large or very small where it is difficult to accurately track the response to a nutrition intervention on standard growth charts.

For example, if a child with excess weight gains further weight, a percentile change from 98.9 to 99.9 is difficult to visualise on a growth chart, whereas when z-scores are used there would be an increase from 2.3 to 3.4.

Likewise, if an underweight child lost more weight, using z-scores it is easier to appreciate the change from -2.3 to -3.4, compared to the centile decreases which would be from 1.07 to 0.03, for the same difference.

Changes over time are easier to understand using z-scores with regards to a response to a nutrition intervention as they are on a linear number scale.

CHALLENGES IN MEASURING CHILDREN

Taking anthropometric measurements in children can be challenging for many reasons, including:

BENEFITS OF USING MUAC TAPES

There are a number of benefits to using MUAC tapes, which can help overcome these challenges:⁶

• Can be used anywhere, in any setting, whether or not the HCP has the height and weight information for the child
• Can be used on any child, of any age and any weight range
• For any HCP, and parents too, to identify malnutrition
• Quick and simple to use
• Reveals immediate classification of malnutrition
• Validated in over 10,000 children

RESOURCES TO HELP YOU SCREEN

Webinar on MUAC and screening

This course for HCPs describes the validity of MUAC and it’s clinical application, reviews z-score calculations and demonstrates how to take MUAC measurements in paediatric practice.

How to guide

This simple how to guide outlines the steps to taking measurements using the MUAC z-score tape.

To get a supply of reusable MUAC z-scope tapes for your clinic or practice,
request a meeting with your local Abbott representative 

UK-N/A-2300229 | August 2023

1. BAPEN, 2016: Assessment and Planning. Available online: https://www.bapen.org.uk/screening-and-must/82-nutrition-support/assessment-and-planning. Last accessed June 2023. 2. Devore GR J UltrasoundMed 2017; 36:459–473. 3. Conkle J & Martorell R Adv Nutr 2019; 1;10:S10-S16. 4. Srinivasan V et al. Pediatr Qual Saf. 2017;10;2(3):e022. 5. Bilukha O et al. BMC Nutr 2020 6, 60. 6. Aydın K et al. Front Pedi 2023;11:2296-2360.