Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Material and Methods: A total of 99 children aged 2–18 years with a diagnosis of CP were included in the study. Nutritional status and quality of life were assessed using anthropometric measurements and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 3.0 CP Module).

Results: This study revealed that mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) is a reliable indicator not only of nutritional status but also of quality of life in children with cerebral palsy. Anthropometric parameters such as height, weight, MUAC, thigh circumference, and arm length were significantly lower in children with feeding difficulties (p<0.001). MUAC was strongly and positively correlated with total PedsQL scores (r=0.988, p<0.001), indicating a robust association between nutritional status and perceived quality of life. Additionally, as GMFCS level increased, indicating more severe motor impairment, both growth metrics and quality of life scores declined.

Conclusion: MUAC measurement reflects both malnutrition and quality of life in children with CP. Routine clinical use of this parameter in follow-up is recommended.

Keywords: Anthropometry, cerebral palsy, quality of life

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Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

How to cite

1.
Dilber B, Kamaşak T. Correlation between mid-upper arm circumference and quality of life: a study in children with cerebral palsy. Turk J Pediatr Dis [Internet]. 2025 Jul. 4 [cited 2025 Aug. 23];:1-6. Available from: https://turkjpediatrdis.org/article/view/1129