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Table 2 Summary of the results from longitudinal studies with anthropometric measures as exposures and malaria-related outcomes

From: Association between anthropometry-based nutritional status and malaria: a systematic review of observational studies

Identification

Country

Age group/follow-up time

Plasmodium species

Sample size

Exposure (undernutrition)

Outcome

Effect measure/intensity

Result

Covariates tested or adjusted

Pazzaglia et al. [28]

Vietnam

Follow-up of 28 days

P. falciparum

 

Grams/day

 

Multiple regression

 

Age, race, total duration of infection, duration of primary attack, pre-patent period, incubation period, peak of fever

    

58

Increment on weight

Time to peak parasite density

NI (p = 0.050)

Protection

 
    

42

Increment on weight

Time to peak gametocytaemia

NI (p = 0.050)

Risk

 

Snow et al. [29]

Gambia

1 to 4 years (Follow-up of 4 months)

P. falciparum

 

Z-score (mean with SD) (NCHS, 1977)

 

“t” Test (mean z-score at baseline anthropometry)

 

None

    

138

H/A

Incidence (clinical malaria vs no malaria)

−0.96 vs −0.89

No association

 
    

138

W/H

Incidence (clinical malaria vs no malaria)

−1.03 vs −1.18

No association

 
    

138

W/A

Incidence (clinical malaria vs no malaria)

−1.39 vs −1.47

No association

 
    

34

H/A

Incidence (asymptomatic malaria vs no malaria)

−0.97 vs −0.89

No association

 
    

34

W/H

Incidence (asymptomatic malaria vs no malaria)

−0.96 vs −1.18

No association

 
    

34

W/A

Incidence (asymptomatic malaria vs no malaria)

−1.35 vs −1.47

No association

 
    

59

H/A

High parasite density in clinical malaria (≥5000/µL)

−1.03 vs −0.94

No association

 
    

59

W/H

High parasite density in clinical malaria (≥5000/µL)

−1.32 vs −0.91

No association

 
    

59

W/A

High parasite density in clinical malaria (≥5000/µL)

−1.67 vs −1.28

No association

 
    

15

H/A

High parasite density on asymptomatic infection (≥5000/µL)

−1.84 vs −0.81

No association

 
    

15

W/H

High parasite density on asymptomatic infection (≥5000/µL)

−0.89 vs −1.06

No association

 
    

15

W/A

High parasite density on asymptomatic infection (≥5000/µL)

−1.34 vs −1.36

No association

 

Van den Broeck et al. [21]

Congo

<5 years

P. falciparum

 

Z-score (<−2) (NCHS, 1977)

 

RR

 

None

    

64

H/A

Mortality (3 months follow up)

NI (NS)

No association

 
    

64

W/H

Mortality (3 months follow up)

NI (NS)

No association

 
    

64

W/A

Mortality (3 months follow up)

NI (NS)

No association

 
    

64

AC/A

Mortality (3 months follow up)

NI (NS)

No association

 
    

64

H/A

Mortality (3–30 months follow up)

NI (NS)

No association

 
    

64

W/H

Mortality (3–30 months follow up)

NI (NS)

No association

 
    

64

W/A

Mortality (3–30 months follow up)

NI (NS)

No association

 
    

64

AC/A

Mortality (3–30 months follow up)

NI (NS)

No association

 

Genton et al. [22]

Papua New Guinea

11 months to 11 years

P. falciparum

 

Z-score (<−2) (NCHS, 1977)

 

OR

 

Age, duration of symptoms, temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, parasite density, glycaemia, haemoglobin, maematocri, white cell count

    

121

W/A

Mortality (cerebral malaria)

0.98 (0.65–1.49)

No association

 

Olumese et al. [7]

Nigeria

1 to 5 years

P. falciparum

 

Percentile ≤80 % (NCHS, 1977)

 

Fisher’s exact test

 

None

    

57

W/A

Death or recover with neurological deficit on cerebral malaria

NI (p = 0.037)

Risk

 

Renaudin et al. [20]

Chad

<5 years

P. falciparum

 

Z-score (<−2) (NCHS, 1977)

 

X2 (Chi-square)

 

None

    

227

W/H

Mortality

NI (NS)

No association

 

Williams et al. [30]

Vanuatu

<10 years

P. falciparum/P. vivax

 

Z-score (<−2) (NCHS, 1977)

 

RR

 

None

    

702

W/H

Incidence (P. falciparum

NI (NS)

No association

 
    

702

W/A

Incidence (P. falciparum

1.1 (0.57–2.1)

No association

 
    

702

W/H

Incidence (P.vivax )

NI (NS)

No association

 
    

702

W/A

Incidence (P.vivax )

2.6 (1.5–4.4)

Risk

 

Man et al. [2]

Gambia

<5 years

P. falciparum

 

Z-score (<−2) (NCHS, 1977)

 

RR

 

None

    

5,620

W/A

Mortality

NI (S)

Risk

 
    

1,292

W/A

Cerebral malaria

NI (S)

Risk

 
    

1,473

W/A

Malarial anaemia

NI (S)

Risk

 

Genton et al. [16]

Papua New Guinea

10 months to 10 years

P. falciparum/ vivax/malariae

 

Z-score (<−2) (NCHS, 1977)

 

RR

 

Age, bednet use

    

136

H/A

Incidence (P. spp.)

1.1 (0.97–1.24)

No association

 
    

136

W/H

Incidence (P. spp.)

0.95 (0.81–1.11)

No association

 
    

136

H/A

Incidence (P. falciparum )

1.13 (0.98–1.29)

No association

 
    

136

W/H

Incidence (P. falciparum)

0.92 (0.77–1.11)

No association

 
    

136

H/A

High parasite density (P. falciparum≥5,000/µL)

1.19 (1.01–1.40)

Protection

 
    

136

W/H

High parasite density (P. falciparum≥5,000/µL)

0.96 (0.77–1.19)

No association

 
    

136

H/A

High parasite density (P. falciparum≥10,000/µL)

1.18 (0.98–1.41)

No association

 
    

136

W/H

High parasite density (P. falciparum≥10,000/µL)

0.97 (0.75–1.24)

No association

 
    

136

H/A

Incidence (P. vivax)

0.96 (0.73–1.25)

No association

 
    

136

W/H

Incidence (P. vivax)

0.95 (0.70–1.28)

No association

 
    

136

H/A

Incidence (P.malariae)

0.83 (0.44–1.57)

No association

 
    

136

W/H

Incidence (P.malariae)

0.90 (0.49–1.63)

No association

 

Schellenberg et al. [31]

Tanzania

<4 years (Follow-up of 1 year)

P. falciparum

 

Percentile ≤25 (NCHS, 1977)

 

OR

 

None

    

651

W/A (1-7 months)

Mortality

3.2 (1.2–8.9)

Risk

 
    

1,620

W/A (8 months–4 years)

Mortality

3 (1.5–6.2)

Risk

 
     

Percentile >25–50 (NCHS, 1977)

    
    

651

W/A (1–7 months)

Mortality

2.6 (1–6.9)

No association

 
    

651

W/A (8 months–4 years)

Mortality

1.9 (0.8–4.2)

No association

 

Tonglet et al. [32]

Congo

<2 years (Follow-up of 3 months)

P. falciparum

842

Median <25 (NCHS, 1977) <9 months

 

OR

 

Age, gender, time of enrolment, malaria during preceding month, diet, adequate growth as judged by care-taker

    

842

H/A

Incidence

1.16 (0.54–1.77)

No association

 
    

842

H/A increment

Incidence

1.53 (0.95–2.11)

No association

 
    

842

W/A

Incidence

1.31 (0.68–1.94)

No association

 
    

842

W/A increment

Incidence

1.05 (0.40–1.69)

No association

 
    

842

AC/A

Incidence

2.32 (1.68–2.97)

Risk

 
    

842

AC/A increment

Incidence

0.98 (0.35–1.60)

No association

 
     

Median <25 (NCHS, 1977) ≥9 months

    
    

842

H/A

Incidence

0.71 (0.28–1.14)

No association

 
    

842

H/A increment

Incidence

0.74 (0.31–1.16)

No association

 
    

842

W/A

Incidence

0.68 (0.24–1.11)

No association

 
    

842

W/A increment

Incidence

0.70 (0.28–1.13)

No association

 
    

842

AC/A

Incidence

0.97 (0.54–1.40)

No association

 
    

842

AC/A increment

Incidence

1.10 (0.68–1.51)

No association

 

Deen et al. [33]

Gambia

<5 years (Follow-up of 20 weeks)

P. falciparum

 

Z-score (<−2) (NCHS, 1977)

 

RR

 

Age, gender, ethnicity

    

487

H/A

Incidence

1.35 (1.08–1.69)

Risk

 
    

487

W/H

Incidence

0.87 (0.69–1.10)

No association

 
    

487

W/A

Incidence

1.01 (0.82–1.26)

No association

 

Muller et al. [34]

Burkina Faso

6 to 30 months (Follow-up of 6 months)

P. falciparum

 

Z-score (≤−2) (NCHS, 1977)

 

RR

 

Age, gender, bednet use, socioeconomic status, ethnicity

    

685

H/A

Incidence

1 (0.9–1.1)

No association

 
    

685

W/H

Incidence

1 (0.9–1.1)

No association

 
    

685

W/A

Incidence

1 (0.9–1.2)

No association

 
    

685

H/A

High parasite density (≥5,000/µL)

1 (0.9–1.2)

No association

 
    

685

W/H

High parasite density (≥5,000/µL)

1 (0.9–1.2)

No association

 
    

685

W/A

High parasite density (≥5,000/µL)

1 (0.9–1.2)

No association

 
    

685

H/A

High parasite density (≥10,000/µL)

0.8 (0.5–1.4)

No association

 
    

685

W/H

High parasite density (≥10,000/µL)

0.8 (0.5–1.4)

No association

 
    

685

W/A

High parasite density (≥10,000/µL)

1 (0.5–1.8)

No association

 

Mockenhaupt et al. [35]

Ghana

6 months to 9 years

P. falciparum

 

Z-score (<−2) (NCHS, 1977)

 

OR

 

Age, gender, shock, respiratory distress, haemoglobinuria, multiple convulsions, severe anemia, jaundice, prostration, cerebral malaria, impaired consciousness, hyperlactataemia hyperparasitaemia hypoglycaemia, hyperpyrexia

    

285

W/H

Mortality (severe malaria)

2.8 (1.1–7.0)

Risk

 

Nyakeriga et al. [36]

Kenia

28 to 60 months (Follow-up of 1 year and 5 months)

P. falciparum

 

Z-score (<−2) (NCHS, 1977)

Incidence

RR

 

Age, ethnicity, season, haemoglobin genotype

    

341

H/A

Incidence

1.09 (0.92–1.28)

No association

 
    

341

W/A

Incidence

0.96 (0.78–1.19)

No association

 

Danquah et al. [37]

Ghana

3 months to 2 years (Follow-up of 1 year and 9 months)

P. falciparum

 

Z-score (≤−2) (WHO, 2006)

 

RR

 

Season, food availability

    

1,200

H/A, L/A, W/H and W/A combined index

Incidence (non-severe malaria)

NI (NS)

No association

 
    

1,200

H/A, L/A, W/H and W/A combined index

Incidence (assymptomatic malaria)

NI (NS)

No association

 

Fillol et al. [17]

Senegal

12 to 70 months (Follow-up of 25 weeks)

P. falciparum

 

Z-score (<−2) (WHO, 2006)

 

OR

 

Age, gender, site of residence, presumptive antimalarial treatment

    

874

H/A

Incidence

NI (NS)

No association

 
    

874

W/H

Incidence

0.33 (0.13–0.81)

Protection

 
    

874

W/A

Incidence

NI (NS)

No association

 
    

874

H/A

High parasite density (>300 parasites/µL)

2.42 (1.12–5.24)

Risk

 
    

874

W/H

High parasite density (>300 parasites/µL)

0.48 (0.04–5.34)

No association

 
    

874

W/A

High parasite density (>300 parasites/µL)

0.55 (0.35–2.66)

No association

 

Arinaitwe et al. [38]

Uganda

6 weeks to 1 year (Follow-up of 1 year and 4 months)

P. falciparum

 

Z-score (<−2) (WHO, 2006)

 

RR

 

Age, site of residence, chemoprophylaxis, breastfeeding, HIV status

    

99

H/A

Incidence

1.24 (1.03–1.48)

Risk

 
    

99

W/A

Incidence

1.12 (0.86–1.46)

No association

 

Mitangala et al. [15]

Congo

6 to 59 months (Follow-up of 1 year)

P. falciparum (99 %)/malariae/mixed malaria (P. falciparum + P. ovale)

 

Z-score (<−3) (WHO, 2006)

 

OR

 

Age, season

    

790

H/A

Incidence

1.21 (0.76–1.92)

No association

 
    

790

W/H

Incidence

1.46 (0.84–2.53)

No association

 
    

790

W/A

Incidence

1.13 (0.82–1.55)

No association

 
    

790

AC

Incidence

1.14 (0.71–1.83)

No association

 
    

787

H/A

Incidence (high parasite density -≥5000/µL)

0.48 (0.25–0.91)

Protection

 
    

787

W/H

Incidence (high parasite density -≥5000/µL)

0.87 (0.38–1.99)

No association

 
    

787

W/A

Incidence (high parasite density -≥5000/µL)

0.85 (0.53–1.35)

No association

 
    

787

AC

Incidence (high parasite density -≥5000/µL)

0.83 (0.44–1.55)

No association

 

Alexandre et al. [39]

Brazil

1 month to 14 years (Follow-up of 12 months)

P. vivax (72.6 %)/P. falciparum(22.5 %)/Mixed malaria P. vivax + P. falciparum(4.9 %)

 

Z-score (<−2) (WHO, 2006; WHO, 2007)

 

HR

 

Age, gender, maternal education, socioeconomic status

    

202

H/A

Incidence

0.31 (0.10–0.99)

Protection

 
  1. BMI body mass index, H/A height/age, W/H weight/height, W/A weight/age, AC/A arm circumference/age, L/A length/age, SD standard-deviation, NS non-significant, NI non-informed